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Reeling from a knee injury to Usman Khawaja, Australia have crumbled in the second Test as seamer Mohammad Abbas ripped through the tourists to bring Pakistan within reach of a crushing victory in the series-decider.
A deflated Australian side capitulated on day four in Abu Dhabi, losing 4-7 in 26 balls to be 7-155 at lunch and trailing by 382 runs.
Marnus Labuschagne fought grimly in just his second Test to be unbeaten on 43, combining with Mitchell Starc (28) for a defiant 67-run partnership.
Starc was trapped in front by legspinner Yasir Shah, who was fortunate to also claim the lbw dismissal of Peter Siddle (three).
Siddle opted against a review but replays showed the ball was pitching outside leg stump.
Abbas snared four wickets to continue a phenomenal series in which he has claimed 16 scalps at an average of just 10.87.
A victory of more than 356 runs would be Pakistan’s biggest-ever winning Test margin by runs, eclipsing their previous best which they also achieved against Australia in Abu Dhabi in 2014.
It would also be Australia’s fourth-highest losing margin by runs against any side.
Tim Paine’s men resumed at 1-47 on Friday with hopes of at least putting up a fight after showing tremendous mettle to secure a draw in the first Test in Dubai.
But on a day that began with news Khawaja had torn the meniscus in his left knee, the Australians looked drained and down for the count.
Travis Head made it to 36 before prodding at a tempting Abbas delivery and nicking behind in the seventh over of the day.
Abbas struck again in his following over to dismiss Mitchell Marsh (five) after Pakistan successfully reviewed the not-out decision for lbw.
Much of the focus has been on the poor form of 35-year-old Shaun Marsh, who is under serious pressure to hold his spot for the home summer, but his younger brother has barely fared better in his first series as vice-captain.
Aaron Finch also fell lbw to Abbas on 31 and Paine followed three balls later, failing to offer a shot to a delivery which angled back into the right-hander and knocked over his off stump.
Khawaja was expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks after scans revealed he had suffered a meniscal tear which is likely to require surgery.
The 31-year-old did not field on day three after twisting his left knee awkwardly during a throwing drill in the warm-up.
Pakistan deployed Mohammad Rizwan as their substitute wicketkeeper with skipper Sarfraz Ahmed sent to hospital for badessment of concussion symptoms.
Sarfraz was hit in the helmet while ducking to a Siddle delivery on day three but went on to score 81.
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