Youth ODIs: Pakistan down Australia to clinch series

Tourists take unassailable 2-0 lead with 7-wicket win in second game.

KARACHI: Pakistan put on an impressive all-round performance to outclass Australia by seven wickets in the second Youth One-Day International (ODI) at the Kerrydale Oval, Gold Coast and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Bowlers shine again  for Pakistan

After paceman Ziaul Haq and left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz helped bundle out Australia for a paltry 139, Pakistan faced little trouble in getting past the finish line, completing the job for the loss of just three wickets in the 35th over.

Pakistan had lost both openers by the time they reached 49 but a 39-run partnership steadied the innings and, later, Saad Ali (36*) and Imamul Haq (30*) ensured there were no further hiccups as Pakistan won with more than 15 overs to spare with the duo adding an unbroken 52 for the fourth wicket.

Earlier, Haq was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with three for 20 while Nawaz claimed two for 22 as none of the Australia batsmen found it easy.

Opener Cameron Bancroft hit a painstakingly slow 47 off 111 balls, while Travis Head put some respectability to the total with a 43-run contribution later in the innings. But the contributions were not enough as Pakistan showed later with a steady batting display.

The tourists, who had won the first match by six wickets, will face the hosts in the final game on August 3. The three-match series is being played as a warm-up ahead of the U19 World Cup.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 1^st, 2012.