Australia beat Pakistan to win series

SHARJAH: Australia have won the third ODI against Pakistan here today by three wickets leaving the green shirts dejected after they put a decent total of 244 on the board, SAMAA reports. The Kangaroos won the series 2-1.

Pakistan set 245 runs target for Australia after being put to bat in hot conditions. Australians completed the chase with 18 balls remaining, thanks to sloppy fielding by Misbah’s teammates and brilliant 65 by Michael Hussey.

Hussey who made 65, was awarded the Man of the Match. Pakistan had their chances too. They didn't review against Hussey when he was plumb in front on zero. He turned the game around with Maxwell and Wade.

The star spinner, Saeed Ajmal again proved dangerous for the Aussies taking three wickets in nine overs while conceding just 37 runs.

Michael Clarke hailed his batsmen for star performance in such tough conditions. "Can't have been prouder of the guys. Maxwell is a wonderful talent, today is a great example of a team performance. To be able to chase those runs against that attack is special."

Misbah-ul-Haq admitted wasting advantage of good opening partnership. "The way we started, 15-20 runs short at the end. If I had continued with Ajmal, it could have been a different result."

Pakistani openers Muhammad Hafiz and Nasir Jamshed played very well and provided sound base for green shirts to carry on innings honorably.

Nasir Jamshed scored 46 runs and he was caught by wade on Johnson’s ball in 27th over. Pakistan’s first wicket fell on 129 runs.

Muhammad Hafiz continued playing and scoring smartly but finally he was lbw by Clarke in 33rd over when he was playing at score of 78 runs.

After Nasir Jamshed’s dismissal, Shahid Afridi came to join Hafiz but he was caught by Maxwell near boundary while hitting a high shot on Johnson’s ball in 29th over. Shahid Afridi returned to pavilion after scoring seven runs only.

Asad Shafiq scored 27 runs, Misbah 25 runs, Umar Akmal did not score any run, Kamran Akmal 2 runs, Azhar Ali 27 runs and Abdul Rehman 12 scored 12 runs.

Azhar Ali and Abdul Rehman both were batting when 50 overs of Pakistani innings completed. Saeed Ajmal and Junaid Khan did not bat.

Australian bowlers added 18 runs as extras in Pakistani score. Australian bowler MA Starc took 4 wickets against 51 runs while MG Johnson took two wickets against 33 runs. Another bowler MJ Clarke bowled only two overs and took one wicket against 3 runs. - SAMAA