SUMMARY: Well, what a Test, a tremendous win to Australia in a game that thanks to constant weather interruptions looked doomed to a boring draw for about four days and one session. But Australia certainly believed it could win, and the difference in the mindset of both teams was pretty apparent from the start today.
Australian batsmen Steve Smith and Mitch Starc went after quick runs and a decent lead. Pakistan, meanwhile, seemed confident they'd be in little danger and some ordinary bowling and particularly sloppy fielding allowed Smith and Starc to make hay, Starc's 84 with seven sixes a real highlight, and Smith's unbeaten 165 another great knock from him at a venue which is a favourite of the skipper's.
The crucial moments in the Pakistan innings were several. The first wicket in the short session prior to lunch, then Starc's breakthrough with the first ball after it. Pakistan didn't help themselves, skipper Misbah guilty of a terribly risky shot, a sweep from outside off to Lyon from only the second ball he faced.
Lyon's three wickets in the middle of the day applied the screws further, and Smith stuck to his guns with his bowling rotations, starting with the quicks after tea, Josh Hazlewood making another key breakthrough with the wicket of Azhar.
From there, Starc polished things off brilliantly, and despite fears Smith might have declared too late, he got it spot on, Australia with an 18 run lead and more than 14 overs to spare. He deserves plenty of credit for his leadership as well as his performance here.
And so, from the wreckage of Hobart, Australia have turned it around remarkably with three straight victories, one against a previously rampant South Africa, and the last two against a pretty reasonable Pakistan line-up. They'll go to Sydney full of confidence now with a new-look team that really looks capable of improving still.
And that's all from Rohan Connolly here at Blog Central. Thanks for your company over the last five days, I'll be back to join you for the Third Test at the SCG starting on 3 January. Have a happy new year, stay safe, and we'll see you back here then. Cheers!