Maxwell guides Aus to second win

A quick-fire 76 from Glen Maxwell saw Australia comfortably beat Pakistan in Dubai in the second ODI of the series on Friday.

The victory saw Australia wrap up the three game series – after an equally comfortable win in Sharjah on Tuesday – and head in Sunday’s final game with a shot at a whitewash.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, and the decision appeared to be paying off when Ahmed Shehzad and Sarfraz Ahmed both reached their half-centuries soon after the 20 over mark.

However, the openers fell soon after with Shehzad caught by Steve Smith after pulling Xavier Doherty to mid-wicket in the 25th over and Ahmed caught by Maxwell off the bowling Mitchell Johnson in the very next.

A middle and lower order collapse followed. Asad Shafiq offered some resistance to the Aussie bowling before falling for 29 when he was caught at midoff by Johnson off the bowling Nathan Lyon.

Misbah ul Haq and Fawad Alam were the only other batsmen to crack double figures, with the rest falling for six and under as Pakistan posted 215/all-out (49.3 overs).

As in the first ODI, Johnson was Australia’s main attacking weapon and took three wickets for 40 runs in his ten overs.

Australia’s top order didn’t fare much better than Pakistan’s middle-order. Opener Aaron Finch Fell for 14 and Smith went for 12 before George Bailey arrived to steady the ship, building a partnership with opener David Warner and then Maxwell after Warner was dismissed.

Maxwell was caught by Asad Shafiq off Zulfiqar Babar in the 37th over but the lower order was able to comfortably chase down the remaining 37 runs with Australia scoring 217/5 to win.

Spinner Raza Hassan was the most expensive of Pakistan’s bowlers, conceding 68 runs in his 10 overs.

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