U19 series: Australia down Pakistan for consolation

Tourists take series 2-1 despite 8-wicket loss in final match.

KARACHI: Hosts Australia outclassed Pakistan by eight wickets in the third and final match of the one-day series as the tourists claimed the series 2-1.

Pakistan paid for their batting failure in the final match as the home side registered a comfortable win, chasing down the 180-run target with ease. Pakistan lost their first three wickets for just eight runs oas Sami Aslam (four), captain Babar Azam (zero) and Faraz Ali (zero) returned to the pavilion in quick time. Inamul Haq and Umer Waheed put on 128 runs for the fourth wicket but lack of notable contribution from the rest of the line-up meant that Pakistan were dismissed for just 179 in 47.4 overs. Mohammad Nawaz (14) was the only other batsman to reach double figures.

For Australia, Ashton Turner was the pick of the bowlers, claiming three for 38 from ten overs as Harry Conway and Joel Paris took two wickets each.

In reply, Australia achieved the target with ten balls to spare as Cameron Bancroft top-scored with a 76. Nawaz and Azam were the only wicket-takers for Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 4^th, 2012.