Pakistan v Australia 2022, first men's Test, day three: Bad light ends play on day headlined by sublime but perplexing Usman Khawaja knock

Thanks and goodnight to everyone who followed day three of the first men's Test between Pakistan and Australia through Wide World of Sports' live blog.

The WWOS team will be back in action to blog the fourth day as Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith resume their innings for Australia, who are 2-271 at stumps.

The umpires have decided to call stumps due to a lack of light in Rawalpindi, bringing to close day three with Australia 2-271 in reply to Pakistan's first-innings total of 4-476 declared.

Marnus Labuschagne will resume on day four on 69 and Steve Smith 24.

READ MORE.

The umpires have called a break in play due to poor light in Rawalpindi, disrupting Australia at 2-271 from 73 overs.

Marnus Labuschagne is on 69 from 117 and Steve Smith 24 from 55, while spinners Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali have taken the two wickets.

Bad light led to stumps being called on day two when Australia were 0-5 from one over.

Pakistan made 4-476 declared in their first innings.

Marnus Labuschagne has brought up a half-century shortly after tea on the third day.

Sajid Khan sent down a delivery that pitched outside off, but Labuschagne opted to sweep and the ball zipped away for four behind square.

Australia are 2-244 after Pakistan posted 4-476 declared in their first dig.

Australia batters Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith have resumed their innings after the tea break on day three.

The away side are 2-222 with Labuschagne continuing on 33 from 71 and Smith 12 from 28.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Nauman Ali is bowling the first over after the interval.

Australia have reached tea on day three at 2-222.

Marnus Labuschagne has made 33 from 71 and Steve Smith, who walked to the crease at the fall of Usman Khawaja eight overs ago, is on 12 from 28.

"Two understanding batsmen at the crease, two good friends," Rob Key said on Fox Cricket during Australia's reply to Pakistan's 4-476 declared.

"The run-rate has been checked, really, by the two wickets. Khawaja and (David) Warner played beautifully, with real aggression, as well. They took (on) both spinners (at) over a run a ball.

"But those two going has just slowed the run-rate.

"Still a lot of work for Pakistan to do but they've kept on coming. That's all you can do on this surface."

Usman Khawaja was potentially just one shot away from striking a ton – but then came a shot selection that blew the mind.

The elegant left-hander, in striking distance of reaching his 11th Test hundred and in the country of his birth no less, attempted to play a reverse sweep to a ball from left-arm orthodox spinner Nauman Ali.

He failed in his attempt of the creative shot, the ball collecting his right glove and ballooning up to Imam-ul-Haq at short leg.

Umpire Aleem Dar deemed Khawaja not out, but Pakistan captain Babar Azam appealed and the decision was overturned through DRS.

"Well, why, oh why, oh why did he play that shot on 97?" Rob Key said on Fox Cricket as Australia fell to 2-203.

"I have got no idea what he was thinking."

Steve Smith is now at the crease with Marnus Labuschagne (29 from 52).

Australia's rampaging pursuit of Pakistan's first-innings total of 4-476 declared has been halted by tweaker Sajid Khan.

Warner attempted to cut a Khan delivery that was too full for a back-foot stroke, and he failed to even get an edge to it, as the ball zipped through him and careered into the middle stump.

Warner is out for 68 from 114, Australia are 1-156 and Marnus Labuschagne is now at the crease with Usman Khawaja (80 from 133).

"It's a pitch you don't have to up the ante at all. Warner was trying to do that," Rob Key said on Fox Cricket during the second session of day three.

"It's the type of ball, this, that if you just go forward and if you play a normal forward defensive (stroke) it's the easiest one to do.

"That was almost a half-volley and he nominated looking to play off the back foot, looking for that cut shot.

"Warner was the master of his own downfall on that occasion.

"Good bit of bowling, pushed through a little quicker, but (Warner) was just looking for that shot."

Usman Khawaja has nicked a Shaheen Afridi for four to push Australia past 150 shortly after lunch on day three.

The Pakistan-born batter edged the delivery between the wicketkeeper and first slip and it raced away to the boundary.

Khawaja has moved to 77 from 123 and Warner is on 67 from 108.

Pakistan made 4-476 declared in their first innings.

Australia openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner are back in the middle after lunch.

The visitors are 0-138 with Khawaja on 70 from 104 and David Warner on 60 from 97.

Left-arm quick Shaheen Afridi is bowling the first over after the break.