28 April,2009 08:27 AM IST | | AFP
Michael Clarke's all-round performance helped his team give Pakistan a dose of their own medicine as Australia won the third day-night international by 27 runs at Abu Dhabi Stadium yesterday.
The 28-year-old hit a fighting 66 to anchor the Australian innings which helped them reach 198-7 in their allotted 50 overs before claiming 3-15 to bowl Pakistan out for 171 in 47.1 overs.
Clarke's brilliant bowling which saw Pakistan lose their ten wickets for 76 runs steered his team to a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Shoaib Malik (30) and Sohail Tanvir (11) added 22 for the eighth wicket to raise hopes of Pakistan's win before both were dismissed.
Clarke and Nathan Hauritz got two wickets each off successive deliveries as Pakistan, fast approaching the target with openers Salman Butt (48) and Ahmed Shahzad (40) and having put 95 for the first wicket in 22 overs, lost four wickets in the space of 12 runs.
But Clarke credited Hauritz for the crucial win.
"As a bowler I am okay, but I think Hauritz provided the breakthrough and later I took three wickets," said Clarke. "It was a brilliant effort to defend a low total."
Pakistan captain Younus Khan blamed poor batting for the defeat.
"We have spurned a golden opportunity to win," he said. "We need to learn this from Australia how they did not give up on the event after putting a low total and forced a win by taking wicket."
