No spinner, so Pakistan profit

BLUNDER: SMITH’S AUSSIES OPT FOR ALL-SEAM ATTACK

Visitors canter to comfortable victory at the MCG.

Melbourne

Pakistan beat Australia by six wickets in the second one-day international at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday, their first ODI win on Australian soil for 12 years.

The win was also Pakistan’s first ODI victory at the MCG since 1985 and levels the five-match series at 1-1.

Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and chose to bat first on a flat-looking wicket, but Pakistan’s opening pair Mohammad Amir (3/47) and Junaid Khan (2/40) bowled superbly to help restrict the home side to just 220.

They were backed up by leftarm spinner Imad Wasim (2/37), whose 10-over spell in the middle of the innings tied the batsmen down and slowed the scoring.

The modest total never looked enough once Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez (72) and fellow opener Sharjeel Khan (29) had put on 68 for the first wicket.

Babar Azam chipped in with 34 before Shoaib Malik (42 not out) and Umar Akmal (18 not out) guided the visitors home with 2.2 overs to spare.

“The bowlers did a great job for us,” said Hafeez, who was also named Man-of-the-Match.

“We wanted to get a total on the board that we were comfortable with because the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat.

Australia went into the match without a recognised spinner and were made to pay the price on a two-paced wicket that favoured the slower bowlers.

Their seam attack did its best to restrict the Pakistan batting, with Josh Hazlewood (0/32) the most impressive despite not taking a wicket, and James Faulkner (2/35) effective with his changes of pace.

But the other bowlers were ineffective and expensive, with part-time off-spinner Travis Head going for 23 runs off his 2.4 overs.

Amir and Junaid Khan set the tone early with their impressive opening spells.

Australia promoted all-rounder Mitchell Marsh up the order but the experiment failed as he scooped the first ball he faced from Amir to Imad at cover to leave the home side 41/3.

There was a steady procession of wickets until Faulkner skied a ball to point off Amir to leave Pakistan needing only 221 to level the series.

Smith said the Australians had paid the price for attacking too early and losing key wickets before the spinners came on to bowl. –

Picture: EPA SOLID. Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez raises his bat after reaching his half-century during the second one-day international against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.