Cricket: Hussey rides luck to lift Aussie hopes

Mike Hussey scored a defiant 73 not out on day three of the second cricket test against Pakistan to give Australia a faint hope of victory.

Australia will resume today on 286-8, a lead of 80 runs.

Peter Siddle is 10 not out, with only No 11 batsman Doug Bollinger to come.

The highlight of the day was opener Shane Watson's 97, while Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria took 4-117 before limping off the SCG with an apparent leg injury.

Wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal dropped Hussey on 27, 45 and 52 from the bowling of Kaneria. Hussey rode his luck, hitting 10 fours in his 217-minute innings.

Watson silenced the crowd of 24,911 when he was caught at second slip off the gloves from the bowling of Umar Gul (3-62) at 159-3.

The NSW all-rounder has been a star of the test summer with 579 runs at 72.38. His 97 included 11 fours and three sixes from 157 deliveries, after being dropped on 18 at fine leg.

It was Watson's third dismissal in the nineties this summer, having scored his maiden test hundred in Melbourne against Pakistan last month thanks to a dropped catch on 99.

NSW pair Watson and Phillip Hughes added 105 for Australia's first wicket yesterday.

The 21-year-old Hughes, after a duck in the first innings, scored a patient 37 in 2 hours.

Hughes, who was caught and bowled by Kaneria, may have already booked a place in the side for the third test in Hobart on January 14.

Regular opener Simon Katich remains in doubt with an elbow injury.

Ricky Ponting was unable to make a big improvement on his first-innings duck, falling caught at second slip for 11 to Umar Gul's bowling at 2-144.

Batting with an arm guard, the skipper appeared to be still troubled by an elbow injury.

Michael Clarke (21) was lbw to Mohammad Asif and Marcus North's test spot remains under threat after his cheap dismissal at bat-pad to Kaneria at 5-226.

Australia's hopes faded further as Kaneria removed Brad Haddin (15) and Mitchell Johnson (3).

Nathan Hauritz (4) fell at 8-257 but Siddle held firm for 41 minutes.

Bollinger (4-72) ended Pakistan's first innings with the fifth ball of the day.

- AAP