LAHORE, Nov 10: Displaying excellent planning, strong nerves and team-work, Australia won the third and final One-day International against Pakistan by six wickets, making a clean sweep of the series 3-0 at the Qadhafi Stadium on Tuesday.
Facing a daunting task of overhauling Pakistan's big total of 315 for eight in the stipulated 50 overs, Australia cantered home to score 316 for four with seven balls to spare in a match made memorable by a record four centuries.
Ricky Ponting, who top-scored with a brave knock of 124 not out, pulled Saqlain Mushtaq's fifth delivery of 49th over for a single to take Australia to a comfortable win. the sporting crowd gave him a standing ovation.
Earlier, Ponting had Salim Malik run out with a direct throw from point. Ponting was adjudged ``Man-of-the-Match''. He received the award from the Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
After opener Mark Waugh (13) was claimed leg before wicket by Wasim Akram at the total of 25, Australia's fight-back in the match was spearheaded by left-hand opener Adam Gilchrist (103) and Ricky Ponting, who added 193 runs for the second-wicket partnership off 177 balls in 123 minutes. At the total of 218, the solid Australian wicket-keeper and opener Adam Gilchrist (103) jumped out of his crease for a big hit off the left-arm spinner and Pakistani skipper Aamir Sohail to be stumped by Moin Khan. By that time, Gilchrist had laid a foundation of the Australian innings just as Ijaz Ahmed had laid Pakistan's foundation early in the match. Gilchrist hit 12 boundaries in his very fine knock which lasted 145 minutes. He faced 104 deliveries and hit the Pakistani bowlers to almost all parts of the ground.
Darren Lehmann (8) edged a ball from Salim Malikto wicket-keeper Moin Khan at the total of 237.
Ponting found another reliable partner in skipper Steve Waugh (30) and both added 69 for the fourth wicket partnership off 59 balls, consuming only 38 minutes. Saqlain Mushtaq clean bowled the Australian captain on third ball of Pakistan's 47th over. Steve Waugh lifted Salim Malik over mid-wicket for an excellent six.
But by the time Steve Waugh was out, Australia had reached 306 for four and a win looked a foregone conclusion. Ponting and Michael Bevan (6) faced no difficulty in hauling the remaining ten runs for the victory.
Young Ponting occupied the crease for 187 minutes, played 129 balls and thrashed the Pakistani pacemen and spinners alike. He hit 10 exquisitely-timed boundaries in his very fine knock.
Earlier, a productive fourth-wicket partnership of 162 off 167 deliveries between Ijaz Ahmed (111) and Yousuf Yohanna (100) helped Pakistan build a respectable total of 315 for eight.
When Yousuf joined Ijaz at the crease, Pakistan innings was tottering at 73 for three. New opener Asif Mahmood had been out without scoring, captain Aamir Sohail could contribute 21 runs while the seasoned batsman Salim Malik was out for only two.
The partnership was finally broken by the left-arm spinner Darren Lehmann on second ball of his very first over as Ijaz tried to pull him, missed the delivery completely and got his stumps rattled.
Both Ijaz and Yousuf hit chanceless centuries. They took good measure of the Australian pace and spin bowlers and at no stage hesitated to punish loose deliveries.
Ijaz cut, pulled and drove in his usual style. Particularly, his cover-drives and straight-drives were a treat to watch. The left-arm paceman Brendon Julian's second ball of his third over was lifted by Ijaz over the long-on boundary for the first six of the match. Ijaz also hit 12 elegant boundaries in his score of 111. In his role of a sheet-anchor, Ijaz stayed at the crease for 165 minutes and faced 109 deliveries. Ijaz was out at the total of 235 on second ball of the 42nd over. His knock laid a solid foundation for the Pakistan innings.
Yousuf Yohanna inched his way towards his maiden One-day International century. He completed his ton straight-driving Julian for a single. However, Julian had his revenge by claiming Yousuf's wicket on fifth delivery of the same over.
In an attempt to hit the paceman out of the ground, Yousuf holed out a catch to Mark Waugh at mid-off. Yousuf's knock of exactly 100 was studded with 14 hits to the fence, mostly towards cover or long-off and long-on boundaries. He stayed at the crease for 140 minutes and faced 111 balls. He fell at the total of 288 when Pakistan looked on road to mustering a formidable total.
In the morning, Pakistan again began the innings disastrously as captain Aamir Sohail won the toss and made the correct decision to bat first on an good pitch tailor-made for good batting.
The luckless Asif Mahmood could play four balls. He edged first ball of Glen McGrath's second over towards first slip and Julian, fielding in second slip, dived towards his left just in front of Mark Waugh to hold a fine catch. The first Pakistan wicket was down at the total of 25.
Aamir Sohail (21 with two fours) snicked a ball from Julian, which would have been declared wide by the umpire, and wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist dived towards his right to hold an excellent catch. Pakistan was struggling at 50 for two.
Salim Malik (2) played 14 balls before being run out. Ijaz stroked a delivery and Salim Malik was late in leaving his crease. Ricky Ponting, fielded the ball at point and felled the stumps with his direct throw. Pakistan lost three wickets for 73. Thereafter, Ijaz Ahmed and Yousuf Yohanna repaired the sagging Pakistani innings. At the fall of Ijaz's wicket, Shahid Afridi came in to bat at No 6 to accelerate the scoring rate. He played a dominant role in the fifth wicket partnership with Yousuf Yohanna, which yielded 53 quick runs and took the Pakistan total to 288.
Shahid Afridi hit a swashbuckling knock of 40 in 33 minutes, playing only 26 balls. He hoisted last ball of Julian's ninth over over the long-off boundary for the second six of the Pakistan innings. Shahid also hit two fours. At the total of 303, Shahid was unfortunately run out.
Wasim Akram stroked a ball but Shahid Afridi ran late to reach the other end but Wasim was already half-way through. Shahid failed to reach the crease as a throw straight into wicketkeeper's gloves saw Adam Gilchrist whipping off the bails. Umpire Mian Muhammad Aslam raised his finger without the slightest hesitation.
At the same total of 303, Moin Khan was out first ball. He pulled McGrath towards midwicket boundary uppishly and Michael Bevan held a well-judged catch in the deep.
Wasim Akram was third Pakistani run out on last ball of the 50th over sent down by Julian after contributing 13 runs. Azhar Mahmood hit Julian's delivery and after the two batsmen had run two, they tried to steal the third one after an overthrow. Wasim Akram failed to land his bat well in time in the crease and the TV umpire Iftikhar Malik, on second thought, declared him run out.