BRISBANE: Century knock by Australia skipper Steve Smith along with precise batting by Peter Handscomb put the hosts in command on the opening day of the pink-ball first Test at the Gabba on Thursday.
His fighting, unbeaten century kept the Australians ticking along after Australia lost three wickets in the early hours of the Test.
In the final twilight session under lights, the home side were 270 for three after winning the toss, with Smith unbeaten on 102 and Handscomb not out at 54.
Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir earlier suffered an injury to his knee and had to be helped off the field. He returned after some time and started bowling again, but is set to undergo a scan tomorrow.
Australia lost the wicket of rookie opener Matt Renshaw in the middle session after the dismissals of David Warner and Usman Khawaja in the opening session.
Renshaw did not put a foot wrong in an assured innings until in the 44th over he was caught behind off Wahab for 71 off 125 balls with nine fours.
The youngster looked at ease in only his second Test match and was on course for his maiden Test century before Wahab struck.
It was reward for Wahab, who was Pakistan´s best performing bowler, maintaining a tight line and conceding few runs.
Wahab had peppered Renshaw with rising deliveries throughout his innings, but the tall youngster got well behind the ball, showing sound defensive technique.
Pakistan struck with two quick wickets in the first session after openers Warner and Renshaw gave Australia a solid start.
Paceman Mohammad Amir had Warner leg before wicket for 32 after the Australian vice-captain was struck on the pad on leg stump in the 24th over.
Warner was given out by English umpire Ian Gould and did not seek a review, ending an opening stand of 70.
Khawaja, coming off his man-of-the-match 145 in the day-night third Test in Adelaide against South Africa, lasted just six balls before he was out to a false stroke to leg-spinner Yasir Shah.
Khawaja advanced down the wicket but hit straight into Misbah-ul-Haq´s midriff at short midwicket and was on his way for four.
Teams
Australia: David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Matthew Wade (wkt), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.
Pakistan: Azhar Ali, Sami Aslam, Babar Azam, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (capt), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), Wahab Riaz, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Amir, Rahat Ali.
Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Richard Illingworth (ENG)
Third umpire: Sundaram Ravi (IND)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)