Shahid Afridi is the new man. He hasn't got the batting mojo of old, but is there one last magical innings left in the wily veteran? He begins with intent, lap-sweeping Maxwell round the corner and then slicing him over point and drilling him past long-off for a couple of fours.

Image source, AP

Allan Border
Ex-Australia captain on BBC Test Match Special

"That is a huge wicket for Australia. That was a long hop and Akmal could have hit it anywhere but he hit it straight to the fielder. Maxwell celebrated as you would when you get a wicket with a delivery that could have been smashed for six."

Oh no. Look away now Pakistan fans, this is X-rated. Glenn Maxwell serves up a rank half-tracker, Akmal rocks onto the back foot and inexplicably slaps it straight into the mitts of Aaron Finch at deep midwicket.

Maxwell holds his arms aloft in triumph, Akmal smashes his bat on his pads in disgust. Once again the part-time spinner is playing a key role.

Scorecard

Image source, Getty Images

So, Pakistan are forced to rebuild again. What score will they be eying here? 250? 260? They need to find the right approach here, because they have a long tail too much undue aggression could allow Australia to wrap this innings up quite quickly.

Akmal has shown the ability to play with a straight bat, and with Johnson struggling to extract bounce from his deck, he is able to cream the bowler back down the ground for another aesthetically pleasing four.

Allan Border
Ex-Australia captain on BBC Test Match Special

"Michael Clarke is prepared to throw the dice as a captain - he doesn't like the game drifting. He took the risk of bringing back Glenn Maxwell but reaped the rewards with the wicket of Misbah."

Maxwell, who has done a fine job for his skipper, continues. The batsmen rotate for four singles before Maxwell gets Brad Haddin all excited with another straight one which beats the bat of Akmal.

Sohaib Maqsood is the new man. Johnson gives him an easy start with a full toss, which is worked wide of cover for two.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"That's another big wicket. It's almost as if he lost concentration. Johnson decided to bowl around the wicket to a left-hander - a rare mode of attack - it was full, tempting and all Sohail could do was feather it to Haddin.

"These two wickets have significantly altered the match. Pakistan's line-up does not have great batting depth. The tail might swing merrily towards the end of an innings but there's not much permanence there, and Australia have so many attacking options."

Image source, AP

Eventually Haris Sohail plays one big shot too many. Johnson slides one across him and the batsman tries to advance and boom him through the covers, but his feet are rooted to the spot and the expansive swish gets a faint edge through to the diving Brad Haddin.

Image source, Getty Images

Umar Akmal is strong off the back foot but he's living a little dangerously against Maxwell, who turns the ball back in to the left-hander. Twice Akmal tries to cut but the room isn't there. Finally he gets it away off the final ball, jamming the ball through the covers for four.

But then drama - has Akmal trod on his stumps? The bails are off and Australia want a review, but the replay reveals that Brad Haddin nudged the stumps with his gloves.

Image source, AP

Kevin Pietersen
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I've very proud of my numbers and I'm very keen to add to them. The way I batted in Australia has given me the confidence to know I will continue to do a good job.

"It does make me hungry and it's something I've dreamt of as a child. Given an opportunity it's like being reborn or starting a career again."

Michael Clarke goes for the jugular and brings back Mitchell Johnson. He immediately gets Umar Akmal prodding at one in the corridor of uncertainty outside off stump - straight bat saved him there. Akmal looks a little edgy early on and after four dots he's determined not to miss out on a wide one from Johnson, lunging outside off to divert it to third man for a single.

Umar Akmal joins Haris at the crease. He's off the mark immediately with a thick outside that brings him two.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Misbah had hit two sixes in that direction so it was quite a brave move by Michael Clarke to bring Maxwell back, but Misbah spliced it and got underneath it. It might have been a straight ball so the notion of hitting with the spin didn't apply.

"It's a big moment in the game. He got the innings back on track, thought he could clear the boundary but didn't get it quite right."

Image source, Getty Images

Third time unlucky for Captain Misbah. Twice he's hoisted Glenn Maxwell into the stands at midwicket, but this time he doesn't time the slog-sweep and Aaron Finch takes a safe catch running round on the rope. The replay reveals that it was the one that didn't spin from Maxwell, slid straight on and perhaps surprised Misbah. Big blow for Pakistan as their most reliable innings-builder departs.

Image source, Getty Images

Misbah is moving right across his timbers as he tries to work Watson into the leg side, exposing the leg stump that he so nearly lost early on in his innings. Australia have cleverly tied him down here, not giving him pace or spin to work with as the medium-pacers operate from both ends. It won't bother Misbah though, as he calmly plays out four dots before pushing into the covers for a single.

Faulkner has made a good start here. He keeps the batsmen honest with a nagging line and judicious changes of pace. Just four singles from a tight second over.

Kevin Pietersen
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Nothing is signed with Surrey as of yet. That is still a work in progress. I've got it to sort out. I won't be rushing into anything. I've sorted my life out quite well over the last 12-14 months but I'm willing to put stuff on hold.

"We are chatting at the moment. I'll do anything to play for England if I get a fair crack at it. There are so many other guys in that side who are my real buddies.

"It has been frustrating getting little bits of information asking me to do this and that. I'd prefer to be out there as a senior player batting through sessions and taking the game to the opposition."

So, we're entering those nuggety, nurdly middle overs as Watson continues.

Young Haris just doesn't have the sangfroid of the elder statesman Misbah, and his desire to push the accelerator is threatening to get Pakistan into trouble. Again he gets a top edge trying to pull Watson, this time it goes behind him and loops agonisingly beyond the reach of the leaping Haddin. Big shot again next ball, trying to launch Watto over midwicket, he doesn't get all of it but gets enough elevation to clear mid-on for four. Haris is looking to move the score on, but does he have the smarts to construct a substantial innings?

Image source, Getty Images

Pakistan 83-2 from 20 overs (Pakistan won toss)

Batsmen: Haris Sohail 28, Misbah 32

Fall of wickets: 20-1 (Sarfraz 10), 24-2 (Shehzad 5)

Bowling figures: Starc 4-1-18-1, Hazlewood 6-0-18-1, Johnson 5-0-21-0, Maxwell 3-0-18-0, Watson 1-0-4-0, Faulkner 1-0-2-0

Listen to TMS commentary via the audio icon.

Scorecard