See you tomorrow
And that's all from Rohan Connolly here at Blog Central. Testing day for us all with the interruptions. Let's hope day three can offer us a full day of action. We'll see you back here around 9.45am for a 10am start.
SUMMARY
STUMPS: This was another good day for Pakistan, who added 168 for the loss of only two wickets, and really started to step up the run rate towards the end. Azhar continued his watchful knock, bringing up a very well-deserved hundred and then going on with the job. Shafiq offered great support, and added a 50 to his century at the Gabba. Amir really livened things up when he came in, too, scoring 28 from only 23 balls with six boundaries. Of the bowlers, Hazlewood was tight again, and picked up a deserved wicket late in the day, Jackson Bird picked up a third wicket, while Mitch Starc struggled with his footing for much of the intermittent play we had. Plenty of stop-starts made it tough for batsmen and bowlers alike, and for a second day, just 50-odd overs were bowled. The bottom line, however, is a good position for Pakistan, who'd be hoping to push on at least past 400 before having a crack at the Aussie batsmen.
That's it
And it's official now. Play will start again tomorrow at 10am with 98.4 overs to be bowled.
Not looking good
There's covers on the bowlers' run-ups now and the umpires are out inspecting the situation. Suspect they'll be calling it a day very shortly.
Another update
Not much happening, heavy covers still on. News from the match officials is if we're not back on by 6pm, that's stumps. Right now, you'd say the prospects are fairly unlikely. Stick with us though, our comments forum is still open and we'll keep updating you on the latest.
Back to topDammit!
And wouldn't you know, just as the runs start flowing freely, the rain intervenes yet again. Once more, it's not heavy at all, but too much for play say the umps, and off we go again. Stick with us, we're hanging around, and sure to be more play soon ... (he said with fingers crossed).
Four for Azhar
Amir has really coaxed Azhar out of his shell here. He cuts Starc past point for another boundary!
Quick runs
Good work from Amir, he and Azhar have added 38 from only 36 balls, Amir with 28 of them from just 23 deliveries.
Bird is back
Bird on for Hazlewood and straight away Amir throws the bat at him, slashing cover drive goes all the way. He's 24, 20 of which have come in boundaries. Good stuff, has upped the run rate a bit. Now he slashes outside off again, over the top of slips for another four!
Four for Azhar
Amir's aggression seems to be catching as Azhar plays a lovely straight drive to Starc, all the way to the rope for his 11th boundary. He's up to 133 now, Amir has 19 from only 15 deliveries.
Back to topFour more
There's another four for Amir, much better shot, too, an off-drive racing past mid-off to the rope. Two boundaries in his 10 to date. And another! Big slash through slips beats third man, that's three boundaries in 14 runs.
Was that a chance?
Think so. Amir flashes at Hazlewood and it flies high and fast almost through Usman Khawaja's hands at third slip. Was travelling, looked like he didn't pick it up at all.
WBBL injury update
Here's an update on that WBBL injury we reported earlier.
WICKET!
Great bowling! Beautiful line and length, Sarfraz gets a thick edge and it's well taken by Matt Renshaw at first slip. Was a pretty unorthodox innings from Sarfarz, kept advancing down the wicket trying to throw the bowler off, but Hazlewood isn't rattled by much, stuck to his guns and got the rewards. Deserved them, too.
Brilliant drive
One of the best shots of the day from Azhar there, Bird a bit too full and he just caresses between the bowler and mid-on down to the rope. His 10th boundary, been a terrific knock.
Back to topHazlewood back
Coming on to replace Starc, who really struggled with his footing on delivery stride that whole spell. Hazlewood has 1/23 from 22 overs going into this spell, pretty amazing figures, they've played him more cautiously than any other bowler.
Streaky four
Almost another one for Bird! Sarfraz gets a thick outside edge and it flies away between third slip and gully. Could have easily been a repeat of the Shafiq dismissal.
What the...?
Sarfraz faces his first ball from Bird, and for some reason comes strolling down the wicket, plays and misses! That was pretty bizarre! Takes a leg bye from the next and that brings up Pakistan's 250.
Five wides! ... And four more runs!
That's not a great follow-up. Starc's first ball of the next over sees him struggle with his footing, and a short, wide bouncer goes through Wade's gloves and down to the rope at third man. Now Azhar drives him straight down the ground for four, lovely shot!
WICKET!
Great ball from Bird! Seamed away a lot off the track, Shafiq gets a thick edge to second slip and Steve Smith takes yet another clean catch! Ball seems to be following him this summer! Badly-needed wicket is the bottom line, and Shafiq is gone for 50, Pakistan now 5/240.
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