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Johnson derails Pakistan in second one-dayer

Paceman Mitchell Johnson bowled with fire to restrict Pakistan to 215 after half-centuries from openers Sarfraz Ahmed and Ahmed Shehzad in the second day-night international in Dubai on Friday.

Pakistan, trailing the three-match series 1-0, looked well on course for a big total after Ahmed (65) and Shehzad (61) put on a rare 126-run stand for the opening wicket but Australia hit back to take the last nine wickets for a mere 89 runs to be bowled out in 49.3 overs. Johnson, who took 3-24 in Australia’s 93-run win in the first one-day, put the brakes on the innings dismissing Ahmed, Umar Akmal (five) and Shahid Afridi (two) to finish with 3-40 in a fiery 10-over spell.Pakistan, who won the toss and batted, cruised to their first century stand in 44 innings as Ahmed and Shehzad batted with authority against a spin-cum pace attack.

Ahmed, promoted to open the innings in this series, reached his maiden half-century off 60 balls while Shehzad took 63 balls to his eighth. He hit five boundaries and a six off 72 balls. Shehzad hit five boundaries in his 82-ball knock. Pakistan’s last opening stand in a one-dayer was between Mohammad Hafeez and Nasir Jamshed against India at Kolkata in January 2013. As Pakistan tried to build on the opening stand, out-of-form skipper Misbah was run out by a brilliant throw from covers by Glenn Maxwell after making just 15. Pakistan couldn’t recover from the jolt as Asad Shafiq (29) and Fawad Alam (20 not out) laboured through their innings with Pakistan managing just 29 runs in the final ten slog overs.
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