Australia vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Pakistan tour of Australia, 2016-17 Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne Date & Time: Jan 15, 02:20 PM LOCAL

Junaid had Warner and Khawaja in successive overs. © Cricbuzz

Welcome. We're all set for the second ODI. Hosts Australia took an early lead in the series, beating Pakistan by a whopping 92-run margin in Brisbane.

What seemed like an even contest at the end of first innings eventually turned very one-sided as Pakistan's innings unfolded. And we sincerely hope this isn't one.

Toss in five. Stay tuned.

Australia elect to bat again, in Melbourne. The debutants from the last game - Lynn and Stanlake - are out. Usman Khawaja and Josh Hazlewood come in for Australia. Teams coming up shortly.

Pakistan's winless streak on this Australia tour extended to ODIs too when they failed to chase a moderate 269 after having done phenomenally with the bat.

The visitors looked very much in control throughout the first half. Amir struck early to get rid of Warner and Smith and the top-order collapsed. Maxwell put them back on track with a brisk 60 but it was MAtthew Wade's maiden ODI ton that helped the hosts to post a decent score.

269 wasn't enough on a belter like Brisbane's but Pakistan, predictably, pressed the self-destruct button to lose their way despite a solid start. The margin of Australia's victory - 92 runs - tells you how much work exactly needs to go into earning their first win. Anything less than an all-round effort with the bat and ball wouldn't suffice.

Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez(c), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan

Australia: David Warner, Travis Head, Steven Smith(c), Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade(w), James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood

So Pakistan have made bulk changes. Asad Shafiq, Shoaib Malik and Junaid Khan come in place of Azhar Ali, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Nawaz. Malik, well, missed out in Brisbane due to an illness. He's back now. And Since Azhar is forced out due to an injury, Hafeez will be leading the tourists.

Injury woes are piling for Pakistan. But is Hafeez really the right choice for a captain in this situation? Tweet us your views

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He's struggled all the while during his 29-ball stay and Starc puts an end to his misery. Way outside off which the batsman decided to poke and pays the price with his wicket. Wade takes the catch, Shafiq departs after contributing 13 to the chase.

Here comes Umar Akmal with Pakistan 26 away from victory.

Malik inching closer to his half-century in Melbourne. Faulkner had three overs left and he's been called in. Pakistan need 18 more in six overs.

Over there in Pune, Jason Roy and Joe Root have taken England to 255 for 5 after 43 overs.
Over there in Pune, Jason Roy and Joe Root have taken England to 255 for 5 after 43 overs.

What do you think will be England's final score? Follow the action here..

There are the winning runs, in the form of a wide and that's all over for Australia. Hafeez and Malik help Pakistan chase down the 221-run target with six wickets and 14 balls to spare. Handshakes all over but some credit must also go to Australia for stretching a seeming easy chase to the final few overs.

Hafeez, the stand-in skipper, led from the front with a brilliant 71 and Malik provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 42 as Pakistan level series 1-1 in Melbourne.

Interestingly, this is Pakistan's first win on tour.

Great, all-round show from Pakistan to come back and level the series here. The bowlers - Junaid and Imad Wasim in particular - did exceedingly well to wrap up the hosts for 220 but more importantly, this time around, the batsmen did not let the team down. Hafeez answering his critics in style with a responsible innings where everyone doubted another collapse from Pakistan, he held one end together to keep Pakistan constantly on the track. And then when the captain fell, another senior pro - Malik - stepped up and ensured all the hard work isn't wasted like the previous game.

Six wicket win for the tourists to draw level in the series and over to Perth now.

Smith, meanwhile, hinted that Chris Lynn might be replaced in the Australian squad due to soreness.

Hafeez bags the Man of the Match for his 71-ball effort in the chase.

Well, that's all from us today. Tada!