Pakistan set up series decider

Mike Hussey: a typically gritty 61

Nasir Jamshed: match-winning innings for Pakistan

Nasir Jamshed's 97 from just 98 balls set up a comfortable seven-wicket win for Pakistan over Australia in the second one-day international in Abu Dhabi.

A typically gritty 61 from Mike Hussey underpinned Australia's total of 248 as Saeed Ajmal (4-32) impressed with the ball.

However, Jamshed and Azhar Ali with an unbeaten 59 were the bedrock of Pakistan's response, as they cruised to victory with 38 balls to spare.

That means the three-match series will be decided in the final game in Sharjah on September 3.

Australia won the toss and decided to bat, with Mike Hussey top-scoring.

George Bailey's 39 and 37 from captain Michael Clarke offered ample support as the Australians stepped up the pace in the second half of their innings having only made 87 by the midway point.

Knowing a win would secure the series with a game to spare, Clarke challenged his openers to post a big score but they both let him down with Matthew Wade (eight) chopping on to Junaid Khan and David Warner getting trapped in front by Saeed Ajmal for 24.

Clarke was then pinned by Mohammad Hafeez and, when David Hussey was tied up by Ajmal, a score of 87-4 did not look too healthy.

Return catch

But Mike Hussey and Bailey added 66 for the fifth wicket, with the former hanging around to add 58 with Glenn Maxwell after Bailey chipped a return catch to Abdur Rehman.

Mike Hussey went when he danced down to Ajmal and lost his stumps, leaving Maxwell, Dan Christian and Mitchell Starc to add some valuable bottom-order runs.

In reply, Pakistan started strongly, losing their first wicket on 66 when Mohammad Hafeez fell to Christian for 23.

Jamshed and Ali kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely before the former was caught by Starc off the bowling of Mitchell Johnson.

Asad Shafiq was then bowled by James Pattinson for nine, but captain Misbah-ul-Haq (35 not out) provided the perfect foil for the steady Ali.

Australia were forced to spread the bowling, with eight players used in a bid to break down Pakistan's solid partnerships, but it proved to be a thankless task.

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