CRICKET NEWS

Australia make clean 5-0 sweep against Pakistan

Australia made a clean 5-0 sweep of the Commonwealth Bank series when they beat Pakistan by two wickets in the hard-fought fifth ODI in Perth on January 31. The Aussies were made to fight hard by some fine bowling, but finally emerged victorious finishing with 213 for 8 with four deliveries to spare. 

It was Mike Hussey’s clinical unbeaten 40 that saw Australia through after they had lost six wickets for 150 runs. He got good support from Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Hauritz. Earlier, skipper Ricky Ponting made 55. Pakistan’s stand-in skipper Shahid Afridi bowled superbly to claim 2 for 31. Shoaib Malik and Rana Naved also claimed two wickets each for 48 and 55 respectively.

Winning the toss and choosing to bat, Pakistan were all out for 212 in the 50th over. They started disastrously losing both openers without a run on the board. But Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal steadied the ship somewhat before Malik was run out for 36. Fawad Alam then joined Akmal and they added 82 for the fifth wicket. Akmal and Fawad made 67 and 63 respectively. Clint McKay was the most successful bowler claiming 4 for 35. Ryan Harris again bowled superbly to take 3 for 44 while Johnson finished with 2 for 42.

McKay was named Man of the Match and the Man of the Series award went to Harris.

Brief scores: Pakistan 212 (U Akmal 67, Alam 63; McKay 4/35, Harris 3/44); Australia 213 for 8 (Ponting 55, Hussey 40*; Afridi 2/31, Malik 2/48, Naved 2/55). Australia won by 2 wickets.