Australia moved two wickets closer to victory by lunch on the fifth day in Hobart but Khurram Manzoor refused to surrender and gave Pakistan at least a sniff of saving the Test. Manzoor's third Test half-century was slow and patient and at the break he was on 59 with Mohammad Aamer on 12, as Pakistan moved to 6 for 168. Their victory target of 438 was not the issue for Australia, they simply needed to grab the remaining wickets while the weather held up. There was no rain on the final morning and the skies looked clear and promising despite showers being forecast.
Australia began impressively with Shoaib Malik caught behind off Peter Siddle for 19, after adding only one to his overnight score. Sarfraz Ahmed managed 5 before he was caught at slip off Nathan Hauritz in strange circumstances, when his edge clipped the gloves of Brad Haddin, went through the hands of Michael Clarke and onto his boot before bouncing up for Clarke to complete the catch.
There was no further joy for Australia and Manzoor's 194-ball half-century frustrated the hosts, who had a couple of close calls turned down. Manzoor survived a tight lbw shout in the first over when Asoka de Silva declined Siddle's appeal, and Australia's review was rejected when Hawk-Eye showed he was struck in the zone of uncertainty, perhaps just outside the line of off stump.
A perilously close run-out call also went in favour of the visitors when Brad Haddin whipped the bails off at the striker's end and the Australians thought they had Aamer caught short. The batsman was given the benefit of the doubt when the third umpire decided he could not be sure if Aamer had made his ground.
