Firebrand Shoaib Akhtar got under the collar of Australia's batsmen as Pakistan gave the home side the fight cricket was craving on day two of the second Test at the MCG.

Sparks flew in between showers as Shoaib had a verbal dust-up with Justin Langer, made it three from three against Matthew Hayden and made sure Ricky Ponting and Darren Lehmann remained planted in lean trots.

His figures of 3-56 gave Pakistan a chance of squaring the series on a slow wicket that Australia will find difficult in the final innings.

Australia was 5-203 at stumps in reply to Pakistan's 341, with Damien Martyn (67 not out) and Adam Gilchrist (26 not out) looking to erase the remaining 138-run deficit to keep a fourth innings run chase manageable.

Shoaib removed Hayden (nine) and Ponting (seven) in his first spell, and later zeroed in on Langer as the pair traded barbs in an exchange that could have spilled over had a shower not sent the players to the rooms for an early tea.

Shoaib hit Langer on the hand with one delivery and television replays showed the bowler spit, however it was unclear whether he did so in his opponent's direction.

Langer, eventually out for 50 to legspinner Danish Kaneria, also hammed up the situation by sticking his right arm out to indicate a no-ball before umpire Rudi Koertzen confirmed that Shoaib confirmed a no-ball.

Koertzen and stand-in Pakistan captain Yousuf Youhana had words with Shoaib to keep things in control.

"It was great, wasn't it?," Langer said of the exchange.

"For me that's why you play the game.

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