Beleaguered Pakistani captain Aamer Sohail won the toss and batted first. Shahid Afridi was recalled to the Pakistan team to replace Arshad Khan. For Australia, Damien Martyn was dropped and Andrew Symonds brought in for his first one-day international. Symonds, born in England and a former Gloucestershire batsman, turned down selection for an England A tour in 1995 in the hope of obtaining Australian selection. After some patchy form to begin with, he strung together a few centuries for Queensland last season.

Opening bat Asif Mahmood went for a duck. The captain went for 21, followed by Saleem Malik, run out by Ponting for 2. From here Ijaz Ahmed and Yousuf Youhana took over, sharing a fourth wicket partnership of 183 at over a run a ball. Ijaz blasted his way to his eight one-day century in 100 balls before being bowled by change bowler Darren Lehmann for 111. With the score 235 for 4 from 41.2 overs the there was more to come. Yousuf Youhana raised his century in the 48th over from 110 balls before being dismissed by Brendon Julian next ball. Afridi, batting at six, smashed 40 from 26, and the Pakistan innings finished at 315 for 8. This was their highest total ever against Australia. Australian captain Steve Waugh used eight bowlers in this innings, but it was Brendon Julian, man of the match of Sunday, whose ten overs went for 2/75.

At Dhaka on January 18, 1998, Pakistan scored 314 against India only to lose in the final over. It would have been reasonable to think Australia, having won the series, would be more interested in the flight home. But not yet. Mark Waugh had an early opportunity to pack his bags when Wasim Akram trapped him lbw for 13, but then Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist came together and dominated the Pakistan attack. Gilchrist completed his third one-day international hundred from 100 balls and had plenty of time to build a much bigger score when he was stumped off the bowling of Aamer Sohail for 103 in the 34th over. His partnership with Ponting yielded 193 runs in 29 overs. After Lehmann came and went for 8, Steve Waugh played his best knock of the one-day series, making 30 from 29 balls before being brilliantly bowled by Saqlain Mushtaq. Ponting had already become the fourth century maker for the match, taking 109 balls. In 1371 one-day internationals this was the first time that four centuries had been scored in the one game.

Whereas Pakistan had left their run-burst till the slog overs, Australia had amassed their lead through the Gilchrist/Ponting partnership. There were still seven balls in hand when Ponting swept Saqlain Mushtaq for a single to bring victory for Australia. Ricky was unbeaten on 124, his fifth ODI century but still well short of his 145 best. None of the Pakistani bowlers conceded less than five an over, Azhar Mahmood's 2-0-23-0 adding further to the belief that his future is as a specialist batsman.

Ponting, with his century and two run outs, was named man of the match in this extraordinary victory. Australia had completed their six-week two-stage tour of Pakistan undefeated, winning the Test series 1-0 and the one-dayers 3-0. While their position in World Cup favouritism may have risen a place or two after this victory, it cannot be forgotten that the Australian bowlers conceded 315 runs in the first place, before their batsmen had to chase them.

Pakistan's next one-day engagement is a three-match series against Zimbabwe beginning November 20. For Australia, the Ashes start that day, their next one-day campaign beginning on January 10 with the home tri-series against England and Sri Lanka.