Nervous Pakistan square series

(GETTY)

Pakistan secured their first Test win against Australia in 15 years after they nervously knocked off the 40 runs they required on the fourth morning at Headingley.

Pakistan's breakthrough win had looked like a mere formality at the start of the day, when they resumed at 140 for three, but they conspired to lose four wickets in an unexpectedly tense finale.

Australia sensed the chance for a remarkable victory, after they had been bowled out for just 88 on the opening day.

But, in the end, Pakistan stumbled across the line, with Kamran Akmal's 13 never more vital, to help secure a three-wicket win and level the two-Test series at 1-1.

Pakistan v Australia: Headingley Carnegie Pakistan beat Australia by 3 wkts

Overnight: Australia 8 and 349 (S P D Smith 77, M J Clarke 77,

R T Ponting 66; Mohammad Aamer 4-86). Pakistan 258 (S R Watson 6-33)

and 140-3 (Imran Farhat 67).

Pakistan Second Innings

Azhar Ali c Paine b Bollinger 51

Akmal c Paine b Hilfenhaus 8

Shoaib Malik c North b Hilfenhaus 10

Kamran Akmal c Hussey b Johnson 13

Aamer not out 5

Umar Gul not out 1

Extras lb7 nb5 12

Total 7 wkts (50.4 overs) 180

Fall: 1-27 2-137 3-137 4-146 5-150 6-161 7-179

Did Not Bat: Danish Kaneria, Mohammad Asif.

Bowling: Bollinger 13 2 51 3

Hilfenhaus 13 2 39 3

Johnson 10.4 1 41 1

Watson 5 1 18 0

Smith 9 2 24 0

Umpires: I J Gould and R E Koertzen