Renshaw’s form has been especially eye-catching, extending a strong introduction to Australia’s white-ball set-up since late last year, while Peake’s maturity was on show when he did not panic at being 6 off 15 balls and managed to dispatch vital late sixes.

With the ball, Nathan Ellis was ideal for the slow, grippy surface and produced a career-best performance. The spinners all played their role, with Matt Short’s three wickets fitting into the bonus category; his delivery to slide past Salman Agha’s outside edge was an excellent piece of bowling.

Ahead of the match, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson defended the home surfaces the team is playing on before being hoisted by their own petard. Arafat Minhas looks a very exciting find – with bat and ball – while Ghazi Ghori has shown plenty of promise. But a lot of questions remain. Shadab Khan continued to labour with the ball, but his 71 kept Pakistan in the game although he may in the longer run have muddied the waters.

Pakistan have only lost one home bilateral ODI series since 2015nbut, after the recent loss in Bangladesh, a defeat in the decider on Thursday would add to the uncertainty around their game as a whole.

Sahibzada Farhan has forged his reputation in T20s – domestically and internationally – but he’s found life tougher in the early stages of his ODI career. He has made three starts in five innings but not been able to convert; in the first game of this series he gave it away when he picked out long-off. In the second match, he top-edged a sweep in the second over, having already lost his opening partner, and it left Pakistan on the back foot.

Matt Renshaw has been the most fluent batter on show in the first two matches in tough conditions. The left-hand batter has continued his impressive white-ball form with smart placement, good running and putting away the bad ball. His only blip has been falling on both occasions when Australia needed someone to close out the innings, although the two dismissals were against good deliveries. There is argument that he may be worth a go higher up the order.

Pakistan have been unchanged so far and Shadab’s runs will likely keep him in the XI given the balance he brings to the lower order. There is a clamour for Sufyan Moqim to play but it’s tricky to see how he fits in unless they drop a batter or only play one quick.

Pakistan (probable) Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam,  Ghazi Ghouri (wk), Arafat Minhas, Salman Agha, Abdul Samad,  Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi (capt),  Haris Rauf,  Abrar Ahmed

Australia’s initial thoughts on this series may have been to give most players an outing, but their balance for the second match served them well so Liam Scott will likely have to wait for his debut. Labuschagne has missed out twice in the series – extending a lean time in ODIs – and is under increasing pressure but may cling onto his place for now. There could be consideration given to elevating Renshaw given his fine form.

Australia (probable) Alex Carey, Matt Short, Josh Inglis (capt & wk),  Marnus Labuschagne,  Cameron Green,  Matt Renshaw,  Oli Peake, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan Ellis,  Adam Zampa,  Tanveer Sangha