Australia lose both openers before a no-ball wicket and a dropped catch spare the debutant.
A late stumble has restricted Pakistan to a total of 7-263 as they look to claim the lead in the five-match VB ODI series against Australia.
Babar Azam’s knock of 84 was the foundation of Pakistan’s innings in the third match of the series at the WACA Ground in Perth, but Australia’s powerful top-order – which has misfired in the past week – will need a seemingly par score of 264 in their run chase this evening.
Pakistan was in a position to launch when they moved to 4-213 after 40 overs but managed just 3-50 in the final 10 overs of the innings.
Paceman Josh Hazlewood (3-32 from 10 overs) starred for the hosts in the absence of the rested Mitchell Starc, while off-spinner Travis Head also picked up two wickets.
Head bowled his full complement of 10 overs, while allrounder Glenn Maxwell was again a notable absentee from the bowling attack.
Sent in to bat, Pakistan’s top order equipped themselves well on a bouncy surface as they looked to build on the momentum of their drought-breaking win in Melbourne last Sunday.
Their innings was set up by a rapid half-century from powerful opener Sharjeel Khan, who hit eight fours and six before he chopped Head back onto his stumps to fall for 50 from 47 balls, before the South Australian grabbed his second when he removed Asad Shafiq (5 from 10 balls) four overs later.
And Head could have had a third when he lured Umar Akmal out of his crease when he was on just one, but wicketkeeper Matthew Wade fumbled the stumping chance.
It was a missed opportunity that proved to be somewhat costly as the enigmatic Akmal moved to 39 and looked set to explode late in the innings.
But he was removed by the impressive Hazlewood and the innings stalled from that point onwards, meaning a total of around 300 – which appeared a distinct possibility during the innings – was out of reach.
Babar shared a crucial 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Shoaib Malik before the veteran was caught behind for 39 to hand Billy Stanlake his maiden international wicket.
In posting his highest international score of the tour, Babar also became the joint-fastest player in history to notch 1000 career ODI runs, achieving the milestone in his 21st innings to equal the record of Sir Vivian Richards, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Quinton de Kock.
