CRICKET SYDNEY TEST:PAKISTAN ARE closing in on their first Test victory over Australia in 14 years after restricting the hosts to a slender 80-run lead in the second Test with just two wickets in hand in Sydney yesterday. The hosts went to stumps at 286 for eight on day three at the SCG, with Mike Hussey unbeaten on 73 alongside Peter Siddle on 10.

The pair have put on 29 for the ninth wicket to give Ricky Ponting’s men a glimmer of hope as they look to avoid their first loss to Pakistan since the 1994/95 series.

Experienced leg spinner Danish Kaneria (four for 117) did most of the damage, removing Marcus North (two), Brad Haddin (15) and Mitchell Johnson (three) after tea as Australia lost five wickets for 87 runs in the final session of the day.

Worryingly for Pakistan, Kaneria had to be helped off the field late in the day with severe cramp in his left leg.

If the visitors complete their day-four run chase successfully they will level the series at 1-1 heading into the third and final Test in Hobart, starting tomorrow week.

Australia were at the crease shortly after the resumption of play having taken just five balls to wrap up the Pakistan innings.

With the tourists beginning the day on 331 for nine, Kaneria was the final wicket to fall to Doug Bollinger (four for 72) for the addition of just two runs.

That left Australia looking to overhaul a 204-run deficit and they made a promising start, with openers Shane Watson and Phillip Hughes taking them to 86 without loss at lunch.

Pakistan then hit back, with Watson, Hughes and Ricky Ponting (11) all departing in the middle session.

Hughes progressed slowly before consecutive boundaries off Kaneria boosted his confidence.

But on 37 he did not quite get to the pitch of a Kaneria delivery and drove in the air to the bowler’s left with the leg-spinner snaring a superb, one-handed catch.

Ponting survived his third straight golden duck in an SCG Test but continued his poor game when he edged Umar Gul to slip.