'Fair game': Alex Carey miraculously avoids another stumping controversy

Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey could have found himself at the centre of another stumping controversy that was seen in The Ashes, but he was saved by a stubborn pair of bails.

Australia hit back with two late wickets as Pakistan clawed to 2-132 and trailed by 355 runs in Perth.

Opening pair Abdullah Shafique (42) and Imam-ul-Haq (38 not out) thwarted the pace trio of captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc before offspinner Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc struck in the last session.

But Shafique could have found himself back in the pavilion but luck was on his side.

The Pakistan batter appeared to momentarily lift his back foot shortly after Marnus Labuschagne gathered the ball at short leg and threw it to Carey.

However, Carey did not take off the bails, despite replays showing the batsman may have been run out.

"I think that would have been fair game," Australian wicketkeeping great Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket.

Fellow commentator Isa Guha claimed: "He touched the stump, but the bails didn't come out of the groove."

Carey copped abuse during the Ashes tour when he stumped Jonny Bairstow during the second Test at Lord's after the England wicketkeeper walked out of his ground at the end of an over when the ball was still live.