Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq and Khushdil Shah star as Pakistan beat Australia in second ODI

Shaheen Afridi takes 4-63 as hosts level the series at 1-1 by chasing down record target

Pakistan's Babar Azam celebrates his a half century on his way to a score of 114 off 83 balls during the second One Day International between Pakistan and Australia at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, on March 31, 2022. EPA

Pakistan's Babar Azam drives during the second ODI between Pakistan and Australia. AP

Pakistan's Babar Azam bats during the second ODI. AP

Pakistan's Mohammad Wasim celebrates with teammate Iftikhar Ahmed and captain Babar Azam after taking the wicket of Australia's Ben McDermott. AFP

Australia's Ben McDermott plays a shot on his way to 108 off 104 balls. EPA

Australia's Ben McDermott celebrates his century. EPA

Australia's Ben McDermott celebrates his century with teammate Marnus Labuschagne. AP

Pakistan's Haris Rauf celebrates after taking the catch to dismiss Australia's Ben McDermott. AFP

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq celebrates his century. EPA

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq, right, celebrates with teammate Babar Azam after scoring a century. AFP

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq is bowled by Adam Zampa. AP

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq plays. AFP

Australia's players celebrate after the dismissal of Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq. AFP

Australia's Nathan Ellis celebrates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq.

Australia's Travis Head plays a shot on his way to a score of 89 off 70 balls. AFP

Pakistani players celebrate after taking the wicket of Australia's Travis Head. EPA

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Aaron Finch. EPA

Pakistan completed their highest successful run chase in one-day internationals when they chased down a mammoth target of 349 to beat Australia by six wickets in Lahore to level the series at 1-1 on Thursday.

Centuries from skipper Babar Azam (114) and opener Imam-ul-Haq (106) allowed the hosts to reach the total on a pitch that aided batting.

Imam and Fakhar Zaman (67) gave Pakistan a solid foundation with an opening stand of 118 before Babar walked on and helped Imam build another century partnership as Australia, who used seven bowlers in total, failed to contain the flow of runs.

Pakistan still needed to score 70 off the last 10 overs and when they lost Babar in the 45th over, Mohammad Rizwan kept the score ticking over before he was dismissed for 23, leaving worried faces in the crowd as the required run rate crept up.

But Khushdil Shah (27 off 17) lifted spirits again with a late cameo, changing the equation by smashing two sixes and two boundaries to guide Pakistan to victory with an over to spare.

Pakistan v Australia 1st ODI - in pictures

Australia's Travis Head celebrates after making a century off 70 balls during the first One Day International between Pakistan and Australia at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. He was out caught by Khushdil Shah off the bowling of Iftikhar Ahmed for 101. AP

Australian opener Travis Head is congratulated on his century by teammate Ben McDermott. AP

Australia's Travis Head bats during the first ODI against Pakistan in Lahore. AP

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq plays a shot on his way to a century. EPA

Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed, left, celebrates with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan after taking the wicket of Australia's Travis Head. AFP

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who finished with figures of 4 for 48. AP

Australia's Adam Zampa celebrates after taking wicket of Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan. AP

Australia's Travis Head drives in the ODI against Pakistan. AFP

Pakistan's Haris Rauf celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Sean Abbott. AP

Australia's Sean Abbott bowls against Pakistan. AP

Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman plays a shot during the first ODI against Australia. AFP

Australia's Sean Abbott in his delivery stride. AFP

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam plays a cut against Australia. AFP

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq plays a shot. AFP

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq drives against Australia. AFP

Australia's Sean Abbott, centre, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman. AP

Australia's Sean Abbott is clean bowled by Pakistan's Haris Rauf. AP

Pakistan's Haris Rauf bowls. AFP

Australia's Marcus Stoinis is bowled out by Pakistan's Haris Rauf. AFP

Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan runs out Australia's Ben McDermott. AFP

Australia's Alex Carey is bowled by Pakistan's Zahid Mahmood. AP

Australia's captain Aaron Finch plays a sweep. AFP

Aaron Finch gets a bouncer against Pakistan. AFP

Australia's Mitchell Swepson bowls during the first one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Australia at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, 29 March 2022. EPA / RAHAT DAR

Australian players celebrate after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Fakar Zaman. EPA

Pakistan's Babar Azam drives the ball on his way to 57. EPA

Earlier, Pakistan chose to field after winning the toss and the hosts made a dream start when Australia captain Aaron Finch was dismissed by Shaheen Afridi in the first over for a duck, trapped leg before wicket.

But Ben McDermott brought up his maiden century (104) and built a 162-run stand with Travis Head (89) while Marnus Labuschagne chipped in with a knock of 59.

Marcus Stoinis also contributed with a handy 49 off 33 balls to help Australia post a total of 348-8.

Afridi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-63 but Pakistan's three spinners had a tough time and were smashed for 166 runs in 20 overs.

Australia won the first ODI by 88 runs. The final ODI will also be played in Lahore on Saturday.