Pakistan seal comfortable chase as Shaheen Shah Afridi and spinners dismantle Australia

Chasing a modest 158, they finished at 158/6 in 40.5 overs, maintaining composure despite some middle-order wobbles on a pitch that offered plenty for the spinners.

Australia elected to bat first but struggled against Pakistan's disciplined bowling attack. They were bundled out for 157 in just 42 overs. Opener Matthew Short fell for a duck in the second ball to Shaheen Shah Afridi, setting a shaky tone. Josh Inglis top-scored with a gritty 65 off 71 balls, but the middle order collapsed dramatically.

Shaheen Shah Afridi starred with the new ball and later, claiming 3/30 in 8 overs. His dismissals of Short, Inglis, and Cameron Green (caught brilliantly by Babar Azam) proved decisive. Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan shared four wickets between them, exploiting the turning conditions beautifully - Abrar with 2/19 and Shadab 2/28. Haris Rauf chipped in with 1/33, including a clean bowled of Alex Carey.

Australia lost wickets in clusters, unable to build substantial partnerships after a promising 98/3.

Pakistan's chase started positively but lost early wickets: Sahibzada Farhan (6) and aggressive opener Maaz Sadaqat (27 off 26). Babar Azam steadied the ship with a patient 40 before falling to Matthew Kuhnemann, who took 3/38 and caused problems with his spin.

A mini-collapse left them at 112/6, but lower-order resilience from Abdul Samad (17 off 29) and Shadab Khan (21 off 37) guided them home without further alarms.

This win gives Pakistan a boost in the series, showcasing their strength in home conditions where spin and seam variations thrive. Australia will need to regroup quickly for the decider, as their batting fragility was exposed once again. 

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