Adam Gilchrist hit a typically swashbuckling century as Australia took a firm grip on the third Test against Pakistan here yesterday.

Adam Gilchrist hit a typically swashbuckling century as Australia took a firm grip on the third Test against Pakistan here yesterday.

Gilchrist hit 113 from 120 deliveries - a record 13th hundred for a wicketkeeper in Test cricket - to maintain the momentum established by the home side with the double century of Ricky Ponting. The captain had started the third day 155 not out and duly passed the 200 mark for the fourth time in his Test career as Australia racked up 568 in their first innings. By the close, Pakistan had reached 67 for 1 in their second innings with Salman Butt the man out.

It was Gilchrist who stole the plaudits, however. Ponting, who joined Greg Chappell and Sir Donald Bradman as the only Australians to make four Test double-centuries, said: "You have just got to let him go and sit back and enjoy it and let him keep going, because once he gets on a roll like that and starts striking the ball the worst thing is to try and stop it.

"The way he changed the course of the game again today was outstanding - 13 centuries in Tests is unbelievable for a wicketkeeper."

Gilchrist was eventually dismissed by Danish Kaneria, who was the pick of a poor Pakistan attack with 7 for 188.

The Australia leg-spinner Stuart MacGill showed a turning pitch was also to his liking when he dismissed Butt for 21 as Pakistan's second innings started badly. Bad light stopped play with more than five overs remaining in the day and Pakistan still 197 behind the Australian total. Yasir Hameed ended the day unbeaten on 40 - his runs coming from only 45 balls - with Younis Khan on five.