Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
49 | 15 Runs | PAK: 349/4 | RR: 7.12

  • Iftikhar Ahmed8 (7b)
  • Khushdil Shah27 (17b)
  • Nathan Ellis9-0-66-1
  • Sean Abbott9-0-74-0

11.07 pm What a way for Pakistan to level the series! They were 4/1 underdogs on the high street at the innings break, but pull off their highest ever chase in ODIs, and how! Babar with a classic century, perhaps his best, and becomes the fastest ever to 15 ODI tons in the process in just 83 innings, three faster than Hashim Amla. Pakistan had never lost an ODI when Fakhar and Imam put on a century partnership so that streak remains intact too.

Imam-ul-Haq after a century in victory: "Thanks to almighty Allah and my parents. It's just a process. I know my game. I just want to back myself. I worked really hard for this and it feels really special when all these things happen. It all comes down to the self-belief. We knew we could chase that. Once you get into the middle overs, we had plans that one has to get through the overs. Luckily me and Babs got rid of the overs. We thought if we can stay there and chase it, alhamdulillah we were lucky today. There's always a margin of improvement for every batsman. I really appreciate all the criticism. We need to work more on strike rate but we really focus on the hurdle and on the management and what is important for us. We know in white ball cricket if you get set, you get runs quickly and that was the best example today. We wanted to back ourself and thank God we were very successful today. Everybody knows our friendship from about 2009. We know each other's games very well. We really back each other and have that belief that we can win matches. If you play so much cricket, you know each other's weaknesses and strengths and that helps. We really needed that win for the team to boost up. They're a really good batting and fielding side. The day after tomorrow is going to be a good match."

Australia captain Aaron Finch: "I think that opening partnership set the foundation for the game for Pakistan. When you're 100 for 0 down, it allows the rest of the guys to play free and Babar came in and played an unbelievable knock. I thought 350 [sic 348] was a good score but not to be. Less dew tonight than there was the other night. The wicket played very well throughout the night. It was a beautiful one-day wicket. I thought we did quite well with the ball. There were just some times when Pakistan took the risks and they came off, which can happen in one-day cricket. When you've only got four players out in the middle overs of the game against some good players with a lot of options, it can be very hard to keep them on strike for a period of time and cut down the boundaries. We tried very hard. It was just not to be tonight."

Pakistan captain Babar Azam is named Player of the Match.

That's it from our coverage today. Come back on Saturday for the series decider. On behalf of Andrew McGlashan, I'm Peter Della Penna. Stay tuned for post-match reaction coverage from Tristan Lavalette, Danyal Rasool and the rest of the ESPNcricinfo team. Take care!

48.6
1
Ellis to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, full on the stumps, punched back down the ground. Ifikhar delivers the knockout blow! Pakistan complete their highest ever successful ODI chase!
48.5
1
Ellis to Khushdil Shah, 1 run, full on off, punched to mid-off for a sharp single to level the scores.

Just two runs to win and level the series.

48.4
6
Ellis to Khushdil Shah, SIX, free hit or not, Khushdil creams this high and deep into the stands! Ellis with a back of the hand slower ball lands full on sixth stump, Khushdil keeps the hands back to clobber this into the 20th row of the crowd over long-on.
48.3
4
Ellis to Khushdil Shah, FOUR, waist high full toss on the wide guidelines, spanks this over cover to the rope on one bounce. Could have easily been called a no ball but the umpires let it slide.
48.2
1
Ellis to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, length ball on the legs at 129 kph, flicked in the air flat to deep backward square fielded on a bounce for one.
48.1
2
Ellis to Iftikhar Ahmed, 2 runs, slower ball lands full on fifth stump at 106 kph, driven wide of the cover sweeper for two.

END OF OVER:
48 | 12 Runs | PAK: 334/4 (15 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.95, RRR: 7.50)

  • Khushdil Shah16 (14b)
  • Iftikhar Ahmed4 (4b)
  • Sean Abbott9-0-74-0
  • Nathan Ellis8-0-51-1

Well that over swung the pendulum firmly back to Pakistan. 15 off 12 needed now.

47.6
0
Abbott to Khushdil Shah, no run, yorker jammed out back to Abbott.
47.5
1
Abbott to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, full on the stumps, flicked off an inside edge to fine leg for one.
47.4
1
Abbott to Khushdil Shah, 1 run, yorker on fourth stump, jammed out to long-off for one.
47.3
6
Abbott to Khushdil Shah, SIX, ka-boom! Length ball on fourth stump at full pace, sits up for Khushdil to annihilate this high and deep over midwicket.
47.2
4
Abbott to Khushdil Shah, FOUR, another offcutter on a good length on fifth stump, this time Khushdil times it and clears mid-off to the rope.
47.1
0
Abbott to Khushdil Shah, no run, slower ball at 118 kph angled in on a good length on sixth stump, Khushdil is way out in front of a leg side heave.

27 needed off 18 balls. Pakistan were in total control 20 minutes ago but with Babar and Rizwan both getting out, things have become very interesting. Abbott returns to the attack, around the stumps.

END OF OVER:
47 | 4 Runs | PAK: 322/4 (27 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.85, RRR: 9.00)

  • Khushdil Shah5 (9b)
  • Iftikhar Ahmed3 (3b)
  • Nathan Ellis8-0-51-1
  • Adam Zampa10-0-71-2

Absaar Ahmad: "Rizwan seriously needs to work on his Odi and test cricket specially in pressure situations like these the time when Pakistan needs his hitting ability he gets out."

46.6
1
Ellis to Khushdil Shah, 1 run, back of a length on fifth stump, punched to extra cover, Finch misfields but they can't take a second.
46.5
1
Ellis to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, slower ball lands at 104 kph full on middle, driven to long-on for one.

James : "Peter, isn't the new rule that you don't cross on a catch?" That rule about the incoming batter always starting on strike doesn't come into effect until October 1.

46.4
1lb
Ellis to Khushdil Shah, 1 leg bye, fullish length angled into middle stump at 129 kph, misses a flick and the ball comes off the pads to the leg side for a leg bye. Big lbw shout from Ellis but Ahsan Raza was never interested.

Shaf: "WHAT WAS THAT RIZZYY WHYYYYY!!!!?????"

46.3
0
Ellis to Khushdil Shah, no run, back of a length on fourth stump at 123 kph, opens the face trying to run this to third man but picks out backward point.

Faraz: "Very disappointed with Rizwan's shot"

46.2
0
Ellis to Khushdil Shah, no run, slower ball on a good length on off, defended back to Ellis.

Usman Khan: "Please don't Pakistan! We are weak of heart and frail of nerves! Why can't we just win without drama!"

46.1
1
Ellis to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, good length ball on the pads, flicked to deep fine leg for one.

END OF OVER:
46 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 318/4 (31 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 6.91, RRR: 7.75)

  • Iftikhar Ahmed1 (1b)
  • Khushdil Shah4 (5b)
  • Adam Zampa10-0-71-2
  • Nathan Ellis7-0-48-1

Jigar: "Pakistan never like easy finish"

45.6
1
Zampa to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, full on off, driven to long-off for one.

Iftikhar joins Khushdil and he will start on strike as somehow Khushdil failed to cross with the ball in the air a long time.

45.5
W
Zampa to Mohammad Rizwan, OUT, is Pakistan giving this away?! Needless charge down the pitch with the run rate still very much in control and reaches a long way away from his body to chip a full ball from seventh stump gently to Abbott at long-off. Straightforward catch at chest height 10 yards in from the rope.

Mohammad Rizwan c Abbott b Zampa 23 (55m 26b 0x4 0x6) SR: 88.46

45.4
1
Zampa to Khushdil Shah, 1 run, full on leg stump, driven to long-on for one.

Pakistan 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st118Fakhar ZamanImam-ul-Haq
2nd111Babar AzamImam-ul-Haq
3rd80Mohammad RizwanBabar Azam
4th8Mohammad RizwanKhushdil Shah
5th32Iftikhar AhmedKhushdil Shah