Mohammad Abbas runs rampant as Pakistan turn the screw

Just as in the first innings, the Australia openers again laid a solid platform, Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja adding 87 runs. They did the hard work against the spinners and the quicks with the new ball, but it was the reverse-swinging old ball that spelled trouble.

In the space of three deliveries, Abbas struck twice, removing Finch and Shaun Marsh. Finch was done by one that tailed in late to be trapped lbw for 49 to go with his first-innings 62. Marsh was dismissed for a two-ball duck, caught behind by Sarfraz Ahmed off an away swinger.

Then in his next over, Abbas got one to swing in late, dismissing the other Marsh, Mitchell, for a duck as well. In a captivating spell of reverse swing, Abbas had stuck Australia three blows without them adding a run.

Travis Head looked uncertain for a while, but once Abbas was taken out of the attack following a fairly lengthy spell, he grew increasingly comfortable. Khawaja was by far the pick of the Australia batsmen, looking solid from the off, as if picking up from his first-innings 85. He survived a tense moment towards the end of play, when he nicked a Haris Sohail delivery, only for it to fall safely between slip and the keeper. He went on to bring up his second half-century of the match in the final over of the day.

He remained unbeaten on 50, while Head had moved to 34. The duo have added 49 runs so far and will look to continue on the same note on day five.

The pitch having deteriorated under the sweltering Dubai heat, it was a far cry from the flat-bed it was on the first day. There was plenty of bite for the spinners and batsmen were constantly challenged.

Having begun the day with an already imposing 325-run lead the Pakistan batsmen batted positively to quickly build on the advantage, and have Australia batting again before too long.

After shooting out Australia for 202, they themselves had slipped to 45/3 the previous day, but Imam-ul-Haq and Haris Sohail played sensibly to add 65 runs for the fourth wicket, further swelling the lead.

Both were dismissed in quick succession, but only after they had played their parts. Imam lobbed a catch straight back to bowler Jon Holland after charging down the crease to fall for 48 – an addition of 25 runs to his overnight score. Sohail fell for 39, missing a pull shot off a half-tracker by Marnus Labuschagne to be trapped in front, although Australia had to review to have the decision go their way.

Asad Shafiq then took charge of the proceedings, playing plenty of strokes in his 56-ball 41, before holing out to Mitchell Marsh at deep mid-wicket off Nathan Lyon shortly after lunch, the dismissal triggering the inevitable declaration, giving Pakistan just under five sessions to try and bowl Austrlaia out.