Glenn Maxwell decimated Pakistan’s spinners by hitting 76 off 81 balls and carried Australia to a five-wicket victory in the second one-day international this morning (NZT).

The win gave Australia an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the series with the final match set for Abu Dhabi on Monday.

Maxwell made Pakistan pay heavily for dropping him on 2 and combined in a match-winning 85-run fourth wicket stand with captain George Bailey (28) to guide Australia to 217-5 in 43.2 overs.

Pakistan had earlier spoiled a terrific opening century-stand between Sarfraz Ahmed (65) and Ahmed Shehzad (61) to get bowled out for 215.

Pakistan’s batting woes continued after wicketkeeper-batsman Ahmed and Shehzad put on 126 runs off 151 balls, but both were dismissed in successive overs.

Mitchell Johnson, who took three wickets in Australia’s 93-run victory on Wednesday, picked up 3-40.

-AP

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