Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria spun a web around the Australian batsman to reduce the hosts to 286 for 8 on Day 3 of the second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Kaneria and pacer Umar Gul (3 for 62) dented the Australian innings after Shane Watson again fell agonisingly short of a hundred.
With Michael Hussey, the only recognized batsman, at the crease on 73, Pakistan are on the threshold of their first Test win on Australian soil in 14 years.
Hussey watched six of his team-mates fall around him, as Kaneria (4 for 117) put Pakistan in the driver's seat. He dismissed Marcus North (2), Brad Haddin (15) and Mitchell Johnson (3) after tea as Australia lost five wickets for 87 runs in the final session of the day.
After a strong start and a first-wicket partnership of 105 between openers Watson and Phil Hughes Australia lost their way, and have a slender 80 run-lead at close of play.
Watson (97), who ended his quest for a Test century in the previous match, was dropped by Kaneria at fine-leg when on 18, but departed for the third time in the 90s after edging one from Gul to second slip.
Hussey salvaged the Aussie innings to an extent. He has Peter Siddle for company to give the Aussies a respectable total on resumption on Day 4.
The pair has already put on 29 runs for the ninth wicket.
Pakistan have won only 11 of the 54 Tests they played against Australia, only four of those victories coming Down Under.
They never won an away series against the Aussies. Their last success in a three-match campaign against them was in 1994.
