Cricket: Australia hold lead after recovering from top-order tumble

Shane Watson made Australia's 21st half-century of the season. Photo / Getty Images

Australia held a 307-run lead over Pakistan with seven wickets remaining after three days of the first test at the MCG, having recovered from a top-order collapse.

Australia were 111 for three in their second innings at stumps yesterday after bowling Pakistan out for 258 just before tea for a first-innings lead of 196.

Shane Watson made Australia's 21st half-century of the season and has the opportunity today to convert his unbeaten 64 into his country's first century this summer.

Watson and Michael Clarke (21 not out) steadied their side after Australia slumped to 3-40 on a third day that breathed life into a grind of a game.

Mohammad Asif had Simon Katich (two) caught behind in the seventh over and Mohammad Aamer brought his side to life with the wickets of Ricky Ponting (12) and Mike Hussey (four) in successive overs.

For the second time this match Hussey referred to the video when adjudged lbw and the third umpire again ruled him out.

Aamer also bowled a torrid spell to Watson, blowing a few kisses for good measure, but the Australian opener survived and posted his second half-century of the match, following his 93 on Boxing Day.

He will aim today to turn his start into his maiden test hundred and the team will be mindful of scoring quickly enough to give themselves plenty of time to bowl Pakistan out a second time. They needed 99 overs to achieve that in the first innings and it was hard work except for a golden spell with the second new ball by Doug Bollinger.

He took three wickets amid a Pakistani collapse of 4-17 across eight overs just after lunch.

Misbah-ul-Haq's unbeaten 65 ensured Pakistan avoided the follow-on, cleverly rotating the strike with No 11 Saeed Ajmal. Mitchell Johnson eventually bowled Ajmal to finish off the innings and claim the bowling honours with 3-36, while Bollinger ended with 3-50.

- AAP