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Pakistan erased 77 of the 176 run victory target, but Australia claimed three top-order wickets as this gripping Test match threatened to go down to the wire. Both sides will be satisfied with their progress after lunch, although Australian can lay claims to having had the better of the day following a morning session that witnessed Michael Hussey and Peter Siddle add 123 runs for the ninth wicket.

Imran Farhat and Salman Butt began the second session in an aggressive mood, taking the attack to the Australians - and Siddle in particular - as they sought a quick kill. Siddle went within centremetres of having Butt caught at gully by a diving Hussey, but thereafter was guilty of over-pitching and was punished to the tune of 27 runs from his four-over spell.

A change of bowler brought a change of fortune, however. Doug Bollinger proved troublesome for both openers with his full length, and was rewarded with the wicket of Farhat, caught by Mitchell Johnson at midwicket attempting to drive on the up. Johnson then sent shivers through the Pakistani dressing room by removing Faisal Iqbal and Butt within the space of three deliveries to reduce the tourists to 3 for 51.

Iqbal was drawn into a drive by a full-pitched Johnson delivery, only to edge to Brad Haddin. The Australian wicketkeeper was immediately called back into action with the spectacular, diving catch of Butt down the legside, a grab that might have been the best of his international career. Mohammad Yousuf and Umar Akmal ensured there was no further damage before the tea break, moving the Pakistani second innings total to 3 for 77 with a trio of boundaries off Nathan Hauritz.

Earlier, Hussey took full advantage of Yousuf's oddly defensive captaincy and a placid SCG pitch to restore Australia's victory prospects in the second Test. Hussey and Siddle carried their bats through the first session and at one stage looked set to break the 116-year-old ninth-innings Australian partnership record set by Syd Gregory and Jack Blackham also at the SCG.

Australia's revival was assisted greatly by the timid tactics of the Pakistanis who, as a result, were faced with a testing fourth-innings chase. Yousuf's defensive field configurations - which included eight men on the fence for Hussey, who was not in the business of dealing in singles as he sheltered Siddle from the strike - did little to enhance his own reputation as a leading tactician and played into the hands of the Australians.

Hussey has made more fluent centuries, but few as important as that completed on Wednesday. Having watched on from the non-striker's end as Australia lost 5 for 40 the previous day, Hussey seized control of the Australian innings on a flat batting surface and, in the process, relieved any lingering doubt that may have been hanging over his position in the team.

Hussey declined the charity singles being offered by Yousuf and instead looked to pierce the boundaries with drives that seldom left the carpet. He entered the nineties with back-to-back cover driven fours off the bowling of Danish Kaneria and sealed his first ton of the summer with a glorious straight drive off Umar Gul. Hussey punched the air in delight upon reaching the milestone, acutely aware of the innings' importance in the context of the match. Siddle, meanwhile, batted with tremendous discipline and restraint to raise his highest Test score.

Mohammad Asif and Kaneria claimed the final two Australian wickets six overs after the lunch break, but not before the hosts had added 95 runs on the fourth morning. Asif ended the obstinate stand of Hussey and Siddle by removing the latter to a shorter delivery gloved to slip. Kaneria then completed the innings and a personal five-wicket haul by bowling Doug Bollinger with a delivery that ricocheted off the batsman's elbow and foot. Hussey remained unbeaten on 134.