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Dubai: A half-century for Glenn Maxwell and three wickets from Mitchell Johnson helped Australia to a five-wicket victory – and a series win – against Pakistan in the second one-day international in Dubai.
Australia chased down Pakistan's 215 with 40 balls to spare to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, and attention will now turn to completing a sweep in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. A 3-0 result and one more win for the West Indies from their remaining four games against India would see Australia reclaim the world No.1 ODI ranking.
James Faulkner (26*) and Brad Haddin (17) brought Australia home with a 39-run partnership.
After the match it was announced the Tasmanian allrounder would stay on with the Test squad for at least next week's warm-up match against Pakistan A as cover for Mitchell Marsh, who continues to convalesce from a left hamstring injury.
Maxwell's 76 came from 81 balls. He worked the ball around with a full array of shots on display but seemed to bat within himself, striking nine fours and a solitary six – an opportunity too good to miss when Shahid Afridi dropped short.
Maxwell made the most of a life when on two as Umar Akmal put down a sharp chance at slip off debutant Raza Hasan (1-68). He responded by taking 12 off the over.
The allrounder fell looking to finish the game quickly, top-edging Zulfiqar Babar (2-52) and was well caught by Asad Shafiq run towards the leg side from slip.
Pakistan's spinners extracted noticeably more turn than Australia could and the batsmen for the most part played with sensible caution.
Maxwell and George Bailey put together an 85-run partnership before the skipper was run out. His 28 from 67 balls may look a poor strike rate, but Bailey provided an important anchor for the partnership.
Earlier, Mitchell Johnson bowled with fire to bowled out Pakistan to 215 after half-centuries from openers Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad.
Pakistan, looked well on course for a big total after Ahmed (65) and Shehzad (61) put on a rare 126-run stand for the opening wicket but Australia hit back to take the last nine wickets for a mere 89 runs to be bowled out in 49.3 overs.
Johnson, who took 3-24 in Australia's 93-run win in the first one-day, put the brakes on the innings dismissing Ahmed, Umar Akmal (five) and Shahid Afridi (2) to finish with 3-40 in a fiery 10-over spell.
Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, cruised to their first century stand in 44 innings as Ahmed and Shehzad batted with authority against a spin-cum pace attack.
Ahmed, promoted to open the innings in this series, reached his maiden half-century off 60 balls while Shehzad took 63 balls to his eighth. He hit five boundaries and a six off 72 balls.
Shehzad hit five boundaries in his 82-ball knock. Pakistan's last opening stand in a one-dayer was between Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed against India at Kolkata in January 2013.
As Pakistan tried to build on the opening stand, out-of-form skipper Misbah-ul Haq was run out by a brilliant throw from covers by Glenn Maxwell after making just 15. Pakistan couldn't recover from the jolt as Asad Shafiq (29) and Fawad Alam (20 not out) laboured through their innings with Pakistan managing just 29 runs in the final ten slog overs.
Pakistan have one change -- Raza Hasan is back for Anwar Ali. Aussies also one change -- Xavier Doherty in place of Sean Abbott.
Teams:
Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk), Misbah-ul-Haq (Capt.), Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, Fawad Alam, Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Raza Hasan, Zulfiqar Babar, Mohammad Irfan
Australia: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith, George Bailey (Capt.), Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Kane Richardson, Xavier Doherty, Nathan Lyon
Brief scores
Pakistan - 215 (Sarfraz Ahmed 65, Ahmed Shehzad 61, Johnson 3-40)
Australia - 217/5 (Maxwell 76, Babar 2-52)
Result - Australia won by 5 wickets
