Australia have Pakistan hobbling at Hobart

- Scorecard

Australia are on course for a record equalling 12th successive Test victory against Pakistan after destroying the visitors' top order in their second innings on day four of the third Test at Bellerive.

Set an improbable 438 to win, after Australia declared their second innings closed at 5-219 shortly after lunch, Pakistan were struggling at 4-103 when rain ended play an hour before the scheduled close.

With more rain forecast on the final day, Monday, Pakistan could still escape with a draw.

After Simon Katich scored his first century of the summer and skipper Ricky Ponting narrowly missed out on a slice of history, Australia's opening bowlers Doug Bollinger and Peter Siddle struck early.

Bollinger got the first breakthrough, dismissing first innings century-maker Salman Butt for eight, in the fifth over, with a delivery that kept slightly low; the left-hander was bowled between his bat and pad.

Then Siddle claimed Imran Farhat for 14 five overs later, as the batsman edged the ball and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin took a sharp, low catch.

All-rounder Shane Watson put the Aussies high in the saddle when he trapped skipper Mohammad Yousuf (23) and Umar Akmal (15) leg before wicket. Both players unsuccessfully challenged the decisions, leaving Pakistan with no referrals left.

Australia had resumed the day on 59 for 1 -- an overall lead of 277 after declaring their first innings on 519 and dismissing Pakistan for 301 -- and Katich and Ponting immediately took charge with some solid batting.

 Ponting, who scored 209 in the first innings -- his first Test double century on his home ground -- was on course to join fellow-Aussies Doug Walters and Greg Chappell, West Indians Laurence Rowe and Brian Lara, India's Sunil Gavaskar and England's Graham Gooch as the only players to score a double century and a century in the same match, but was out for 89 just after lunch on referral after he gloved a ball down leg side while trying to sweep off-spinner Shoaib Malik.

Katich. who claimed three wickets for 34 runs on th third day, was out immediately on getting to his hundred which came off 137 balls and included 13 fours.