Australia make it six wins in a row to secure ODI series against Pakistan

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Australia won the toss and elected to bat, but found the going tough initially on a slow, sticky surface. Usman Khawaja was bowled by the sixth ball of the first over, completing a wicket maiden as Usman Shinwari brought a fuller ball back into him, and when Shaun Marsh inside-edged Junaid Khan to Shan Masood, Australia were 20/2.

An enterprising 43-ball 47 from Peter Handscomb helped take Australia past 100 without further loss, and though he and Marcus Stoinis were both bowled, by Haris Sohail and Imad Wasim respectively, Finch carried on his form to underpin the innings.

The surface didn’t allow him to be at his fluent best; in fact, only once before has he scored more than 50 in an ODI and recorded a lower strike-rate. But though he fell 10 runs short of becoming the first Australian to make three consecutive ODI hundreds, holing out off Yasir Shah, the full value of his innings soon became clear.

With a strong platform underneath him, Maxwell allowed himself to play with freedom, striking eight fours and a six in his 55-ball 71 before being run out by the keeper. His knock propelled Australia past 250, a good score on a tricky wicket.

Pakistan’s reply got off to a disastrous response, Shan faling in Cummins’ third over, and Haris and Mohammad Rizwan following in his next. From 16/3, Imam-ul-Haq and captain Shoaib Malik added 59 to help steady their side, but Pakistan were always playing catch up.

Both fell before the score reached three figures, and though another fifty stand between Umar Akmal and Imad briefly sparked hopes of a revival, leg-spinner Zampa was on hand to mop up the tail, claiming four wickets in 10 balls to bring the game to a swift conclusion.

Leading 3-0 with two games to play, the result confirmed Australia would run out series winners.