Cricket: Pakistan make most of Smith blunders to keep test alive

Younis Khan's dismissal for 65 was a key moment for Australia yesterday. Photo / AP

Pakistan have dragged the day-night Test into a fifth day, infuriating Australia with a record-breaking show of resistance and sparkling century from Asad Shafiq at the Gabba.

The tourists resumed at 2-70 on day four, with history suggesting only one result was possible after Steve Smith declared on day three and set them an imposing target of 490.

Pakistan were 8-382 at stumps on Sunday night, their dream of achieving the highest ever Test run-chase still alive thanks largely to Shafiq's knock of 100 not out.

Smith's side hold a 107-run lead and remain well placed to open the three-Test series with a win on Monday.

But the sight of Smith, comfortably the safest set of hands in the XI , dropping two slips catches and wasting two reviews was one of many signs of how real the struggle has been for Australia.

Another was Pakistan clubbing 179 runs in the final session, which was extended 30 minutes because umpires thought there could be a result.

Yet another was Mitchell Starc's heated exchange with Mohammad Amir in the 92nd over. The pair swapped verbals after Starc struck the tailender's pad with a 152.3 km/h full toss.

The standing umpire spoke with Starc, who appeared to respond "he just swore, I didn't swear".

Regardless of the final result, the visitors recorded a moral victory that should embolden them ahead of Tests at the MCG and SCG.

Pakistan's highest fourth-innings total in Australia was previously the 336 they made at the MCG in 1990, while they have also bettered England's 370 and achieved the highest fourth-innings Test total at the Gabba.

They have also batted 123 overs - only twice before have Pakistan occupied the crease for so long in the fourth innings of a Test.

Starc, Jackson Bird and Nathan Lyon shared the six wickets to fall on Sunday. None of them were able to complete the sort of easy victory that locals seemingly expected, given a crowd of just 4890 turned up.

Starc removed Azhar Ali, who faced 179 deliveries, in the second session then clean bowled Sarfraz Ahmed with the second new ball.

The left-armer also created a late chance when top-scorer Shafiq was on 72. Smith put down the regulation chest-high catch at second slip.

Starc failed to hide his disbelief. Smith, who later held a spectacular catch to dismiss Wahab Riaz in the final over, was as stunned as anybody.

Earlier, a severe thunderstorm forced an early - and extended - tea break.Australia bounced back after the wicket-less opening session, claiming the key wickets of Azhar, Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq after tea.But they watched the visitors club 51 runs from the final half an hour of play, when Wahab and Shafiq teed off.