AUSTRALIA have pulled off a stunning second Test victory over a disbelieving Pakistan at the SCG, bowling the tourists out for 139 to secure one of the greatest wins in the game’s history. Chasing a modest 176 to secure their first success against Australia in 14 years, the tourists collapsed badly under intense pressure from the ever-improving Australian attack.

Spinner Nathan Hauritz took five wickets, including an astonishing caught-and-bowled to claim skipper Mohammad Yousuf, with the reliable Johnson claiming three scalps in the 36-run triumph.

Doug Bollinger chipped in with two wickets while Peter Siddle bowled his heart out without reward after his earlier heroics with the bat helped bring Australia back from the dead.

The hosts trailed by 206 runs on the first innings after being bowled out for 127 but revived their hopes with 381 second-innings runs, largely thanks to 97 from Shane Watson and an unlikely 123-run ninth-wicket partnership between Mike Hussey (134 not out) and Siddle (38).

Only twice in 132 years have Australia come back from a bigger deficit to snatch victory.

Australia takes an unassailable 2-0 lead into the third and final Test in Hobart, from January 14.

Pakistan’s run chase started badly, the visitors losing 3-50 before going to tea at a slightly less precarious 3-77.

Hauritz then turned the screws, somehow holding on to a thundering return drive from Yousuf to dismiss the Pakistani captain for 19 just after the resumption.

The off-spinner fell to the ground in obvious pain and lay prone on the pitch after taking the catch as team-mates frantically called to the dressing room for medical attention.

In taking the catch, Hauritz injured his left thumb as it was crushed hard against his chest.

With the thumb strapped, he bravely continued and had Misbah-ul-Haq out two balls later for a duck.

Johnson followed up with the wicket of Kamran Akmal, caught behind for 11, as Pakistan slumped to 6-103.

Hauritz then removed Mohammad Sami for two after a caught-behind decision was referred to the third umpire following an on-field rejection.

His departure left the tourists in tatters at 7-133.

It was all but over when Bollinger induced young dangerman Umar Akmal (49) into an injudicious swipe, the top edge reeled in by Johnson running back at mid-off.

Danish Kaneria was out for a duck with the score on 135, smashing Hauritz down Watson’s throat at deep mid-wicket.

Fittingly Hauritz took the last wicket to fall, Umar Gul (six) presenting Siddle with a simple catch at mid-off as the last day crowd of 12 731 roared its approval. (CA).

AUSTRALIA first innings 127 (Mohammad Asif 6-41, Mohammad Sami 3-27)
Pakistan first innings 333
AUSTRALIA second innings o/n 286-8
S. Watson c Iqbal b Gul 97
P. Hughes c&b Kaneria 37
R. Ponting c Iqbal b Gul 11
M. Hussey not out 134
M. Clarke lbw b Asif 21
M. North c Iqbal b Kaneria 2
B. Haddin lbw b Kaneria 15
M. Johnson b Kanerita 3
N. Hauritz c Misbah-ul-Haq b Gul 4
P. Siddle c Misbah-ul-Haq b Asif 38
D. Bollinger b Kaneria 0
Extras: (b-6, lb-1, w-3, nb-5) 19
Total: (8 wickets, 87 overs) 286
Fall of wickets: 1-105, 2-144, 3-159, 4-217, 5-226, 6-246, 7-252, 8-257, 9-380.
Bowling: Mohammad Asif 27-8-53-2 (w-1), Mohammad Sami 19.5-4-74-0 (nb-2, 1-w), Umar Gul 28-4-83-3 (nb-3, w-1), Danish Kaneria 47.5-3-151-5, Imran Farhat 2-0-6-0.

PAKISTAN second innings
Imran Farhat
c: Johnson b: Bollinger 22
Salman Butt
c: Haddin b: Johnson 21
Faisal Iqbal
c: Haddin b: Johnson 7
Mohammad Yousuf
c&b: Hauritz 19
Umar Akmal
c: Johnson b: Bollinger 49
Misbah-ul-Haq
c: Hussey b: Hauritz 0
Kamran Akmal
c: Haddin b: Johnson 11
Mohammad Sami
c: Haddin b: Hauritz 2
Umar Gul
c: Siddle b: Hauritz 6
Danish Kaneria
c: Watson b: Hauritz 0
Mohammad Asif
not out 0
Extras: (lb-0, w-1, nb-1, b-0 ) 2
Total: (all out 38.0 overs 139
Fall of wickets: 1-34, 2-50, 3-51, 4-77, 5-77, 6-103, 7-133, 8-133, 9-135.
Bowling: D.Bollinger 12-3-32-2 (w-1), P. Siddle 4-1-27-0, N. Hauritz 12-1-53-5 (nb-1), M. Johnson 10-2-27-3..