Pakistan left to rue epic collapse

Australia are one win away from an ODI series whitewash against Pakistan after the hosts were left to rue a batting collapse that ranks among the all-time great chokes in cricket history.

Abid Ali – on debut – and Mohammad Rizwan both posted centuries for Pakistan and they were well placed to win the fourth ODI in Dubai as the hosts needed 66 runs from the final 10 overs.

But Pakistan fell in an extraordinary heap to lose 6-52 and the match by six runs as Nathan Coulter-Nile (3-53 off 10 overs) and Marcus Stoinis (2-20) delivered at the death for Australia.

In the 4,119 ODIs to have been played, Pakistan's defeat in Dubai was only the fourth time a run chase has featured two centurions in a losing cause.

India have achieved that dubious feat twice, most recently in January 2016 at Manuka Oval when Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli hit tons before a collapse of 9-46 in 12 overs.

It means Australia are the only team whose bowlers have twice performed such extraordinary 'get-out-of-jail' acts.

"The two hundreds were positives for us, but we should have won this game," Pakistan's stand-in skipper Imad Wasim said after the match.

"We were lacking the power hitting. We were short, so it shows we were lacking something.

"They bowled beautifully (but) some of the shots were not on in that situation."

Australian allrounder Glenn Maxwell – who won plaudits for selflessly pushing for a second run in the final over of Australia's innings only to be run out for 98 – said the visitors had been confident breaking the partnership between Abid and Rizwan could turn the match.

"We knew if we could break that partnership it was going to be hard for a new batter to start," Maxwell said.

"Once Abid got his 100, he started to play a few more shots and started to try and take on the fielders a bit more, which probably played into our hands a bit.

"With the ball wet and heavy it was actually hard to clear the rope.

"So we just tried to apply as much pressure as possible on the new batsman and that went well for us from then on."

It was Adam Zampa who broke the 144-run stand between Abid and Rizwan in the 42nd over when he had the former caught by Aaron Finch on the long-on fence after mis-timing a slog-sweep on 112.

Umar Akmal (bowled off the inside edge after slogging) and Saad Ali (caught at mid-wicket after mis-timing a slog) both made just seven in falling to Nathan Coulter-Nile.

And Imad – captaining in place of the injured Shoaib Malik – slashed at a Kane Richardson delivery to be caught at deep point by Shaun Marsh for just one.

Pakistan's last hope was Rizwan but in the final over he flicked a Marcus Stoinis delivery to Peter Handscomb on the square leg boundary. There was another catch for Handscomb in the same position later in the over as Usman Shinwari holed out slogging in desperation.

The ever-animated Mickey Arthur had a face like thunder on the Pakistan team's balcony, while Maxwell said the roll the Australia side are on at the moment meant the side was able to find a way to win.

"That's the great thing about this group at the moment, we're finding ways to win in different conditions, in different ways," Maxwell said.

"I think it's one of those games where because we've had a bit of winning momentum behind us, you find a way to win these.

"If you look back six or seven months ago, probably even less, we were probably on the other side of it - we were finding ways to lose when we were in winning positions.

"So it's a funny thing winning momentum. When you're winning games, you just find a way to win.

"That's why I'm really proud of this group, we just hung in there and were able to just keep the run-rate at bay."

Qantas Tour of the UAE

First ODI: Australia won by eight wickets

Second ODI: Australia won by eight wickets

Third ODI: Australia won by 80 runs

Fourth ODI: Australia won by six runs

Fifth ODI: v Pakistan, March 31 in Dubai

(all matches begin at 10pm AEDT)