Ryan Harris helps Australia clinch ODI series by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Ground:	Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Scorecard:	Australia v Pakistan
Player:	Umar Akmal, RJ Harris
Event:	Pakistan in Australia 2009/10

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DateLine: 26th January 2010

 

The Australian second-string bowling attack helped Australia take an unassailable 3-0 lead after beating Pakistan by 40 runs in the one-day international at Adelaide Oval. The hosts scored 286 before dismissing the tourists for 246 in the 48th over. Man-of-the-match Ryan Harris, who was brought into the side to replace the sore Peter Siddle, took 5 wickets for 43 while Clint McKay continued his impressive run with a three wicket haul.

 

Umar Akmal (59) and Fawad Alam (33), who came together when the score was on 60 for 4, kept their side in the contest while a blazing 58-run stand between Shahid Afridi (40) and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (33) provided the hosts with some anxious moments in the final 10 overs.

 

Pakistan was positive early with Salman Butt scoring freely but Harris dismissed Kamran Akmal lbw for just one. The situation even got worse when Butt was given out lbw. Mohammad Yousuf chopped on a Watson delivery for just 11 as the visitors slipped. Younis Khan edged a McKay ball through to Brad Haddin who took a sharp, one-handed catch above his head and the visitors were looking down th barrel.

 

Akmal and Alam joined forces in the 14th over and went about reviving the tourists' hopes of victory. They ran well between the wickets, milking the singles and twos found in all parts of the ground. But their dangerous partnership came to an end when Akmal was caught behind after trying to guide a Harris delivery down to third man. Afridi and Rana started swinging wildly as soon as they arrived at the crease and scored runs to give the hosts gitters. But once they were dismissed the Pakistani challenge died a natural death.

 

Earlier, a steady 83 off 113 from opener Shaun Marsh, with support from Watson (33), provided Australia with a launch pad before Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey blazed away in the final 10 overs. Clarke made 80 off 90 deliveries while Hussey's 49 came off just 28 deliveries - the duo combining for an 80-run partnership off just 33 balls. Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif took two wickets each but it was another disappointing day in the field for the tourists.