Australia’s Peter Handscomb celebrates his maiden Test ton on Day Two of the first Test against Pakistan in Brisbane yesterday. Pic/AFP

Brisbane: A withering spell of fast bowling backed up by exceptional catching had Pakistan on their knees as Australia took charge of the day-night first Test here yesterday. Australia's three-man pace attack — Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Jackson Bird — decimated the tourists' first innings under the Gabba lights.

Starc and Hazlewood took three wickets each and Bird chimed in with two for seven to leave skipper Steve Smith pondering whether to enforce the follow-on after a seven-wicket final session.

At the close, Pakistan were hanging on at 97 for eight and trailing by 332 runs with Sarfraz Ahmed on 31 and Mohammad Amir not out eight.