Shane Watson finally scored his first Test century, but it came only after he was dropped on 99, on Day 4 of the first Test against Pakistan at the MCG on Tuesday, as Australia set Pakistan 422 to win.
Watson finished unbeaten on 120 as Ricky Ponting declared for a second time in the Test on 225 for 8.
Pakistan were 170 for 3 in their second innings, thanks to Salman Butt (33) and Faisal Iqbal (48) who propped the tourists after the early dismissal of Imran Farhat.
Mohammad Yousuf (45) and Umar Akmal (27) were unbeaten when stumps were drawn for the day.
Watson, dismissed twice before this summer in the 90s and once on 89, got to the milestone with a single just after lunch, racing to the other end after a cut shot was dropped by in the gully.
After spending more than an hour and 39 balls in the 90s and sitting at the lunch table on 98, the opener slashed a wide ball from Mohammad Aamer, but Abdur Rauf spilt a regulation chance to his right.
The Queenslander, who had scored 96 in the second Test against the West Indies, 89 in the third, and 93 before he was run-out in a mix-up with Simon Katich on the first day of the ongoing Test, scampered through and raised his bat in triumph.
Teenage Pakistan pacer Mohammad Aamer shared the spotlight with Watson as he claimed his maiden five-wicket Test haul. He snared Michael Clarke (37), Marcus North (8) and Brad Haddin (0) in the morning session to finish with figures of five for 70.
Australia's bowlers were left with four-and-a-half sessions to dismiss the tourists, who can create history if they win the Test. The highest last innings chase is 418 for 7 by the West Indies, when they beat Australia at St John's in 2003.
England had scored 332 for 7 in 1928, the highest successful run-chase at the MCG, while England's 310 for 7 in 1949 is the highest total to save a match.
After the declaration, Pakistan advanced to 18 without loss before Doug Bollinger had Farhat trapped in front. The lbw shout was initially turned down by umpire Rudi Koertzen, but upheld after the Aussies referred the decision to the third umpire.
Right-hand batsman Salman Butt was the next to depart, leg before to Mitchell Johnson for 32 after tea.
Faisal Iqbal (47) looked set to complete what would have been a well-compiled 50, but was clean bowled by Nathan Hauritz after misjudging and missing a delivery that spun a long way back.
Three wickets down, Pakistan's hopes rested on Yousuf (45) and young Umar Akmal (27) and the duo responded magnificently, finishing the day unbeaten on 45and 27 respectively.
