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Haris Rauf won 4-22 as Pakistan restricted Australia to 147-9 in the second match of their T20 series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

After a rollicking start from the hosts, Pakistan bowled beautifully to pin them back, with Abbas Afridi (3-17) also impressive.

But they were let down by sloppy fielding with a slew of missed catches.

Matthew Short scored the highest with 32.

Opting to bat first in front of a large crowd, Australia smashed 21 runs in the opening off Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Jake Fraser-McGurk shot 18 but was lucky after being dropped by Naseem Shah on the fourth ball he faced.

Shah’s first delivery was then hit by Short for six as they carried the aggressive approach into the next over.

The duo stitched together a highly entertaining opening stand of 52 runs off just 22 balls before Rauf struck twice in three deliveries.

After tempting Fraser-McGurk (20) into another strike that was met in the deep by Salman Agha, he provoked a Josh Inglis (0) lead that was taken on point by Sufiyan Muqeem.

Pakistan had their tails up and Short quickly followed for 32, bowled by Abbas Afridi, with three wickets falling for just four runs.

Marcus Stoinis survived two missed catches but eventually fell on 14, with a reverse sweep to Muqeem, who was put aside for Haseebullah Khan.

Muqeem’s wrist spin was then responsible for dangerman Glenn Maxwell (21) as the runs dried up.

Big-hitter Tim David was removed by Rauf for 18 and he took his fourth by bowling Xavier Bartlett (5). Aaron Hardie made a handy 28 before Abbas Afridi removed him and Spencer Johnson in successive balls in the final over.

The hosts led the series 1-0 after winning a rain-affected match in Brisbane on Thursday, reduced to seven overs per side, by 29 runs.