Brisbane: Steve Smith posted his 19th test half century and then got a lucky break just before dinner, guiding Australia to 182-3 against Pakistan leading into the first ever night session of a test match at the Gabba.
In the last over before the second interval Thursday, Smith got a thin edge to a delivery from part-time leg-spinner Azhar Ali, but wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed was unable to glove the catch.
The Australian skipper was unbeaten on 54 at the end of the second session while Peter Handscomb was 16 not out.
Conditions were perfect for batting on a warm, dry afternoon in subtropical Brisbane, and Smith chose to bat after winning the toss in the series-opener — retaining the same XI which ended Australia's five-test losing streak with a win against South Africa in Adelaide last month.
Matt Renshaw, who made his international debut in Adelaide, scored 71 in his first test innings on his home ground at the Gabba, stroking nine boundaries from 125 balls before running out of patience against the consistent line from Wahab Riaz (1-21) and getting caught behind.
It was the only wicket to fall during the second session, and ended a promising 76-run stand between 20-year-old Renshaw and Smith.
The third-wicket pair came together with the total at 75-2 after Australia had lost two wickets in 10 balls.
Left-arm paceman Mohammad Amir ended the 70-run opening stand by trapping David Warner (32) lbw in the 24th over, and Usman Khawaja (4) hit one boundary before stepping down the pitch and chipping leg-spinner Yasir Shah to Pakistan skipper Mishab-ul-Haq at short mid-wicket.
Renshaw, who was born in England and went to high school in Brisbane, played an assured innings apart from a thick edge through gully in the first over and two edges off the toe of the bat. The tall, left-handed opener and Handscomb were among the three rookies picked in an overhaul of the Australian XI for in Adelaide, and both were at the crease when the winning runs were scored against South Africa.
Handscomb posted a half-century on debut, but made a slower start in Brisbane when he was slowed down for five overs by Pakistan.
Both teams have had time in the No. 1 ranking this year, but both are coming off series losses. Australia lost 2-1 to South Africa — the win in Adelaide following heavy defeats in Perth and Hobart — and a 3-0 series loss in Sri Lanka in July and August.
Pakistan is coming off a series loss in New Zealand, but has Misbah returning and Shah overcame a back problem to take his place in the XI bidding to end their country's nine-test losing streak in Australia.