ODI series: Amount of dew a big surprise: Clarke

Batting first proves costly as Pakistan square series with 7-wicket win in 2nd ODI.

ABU DHABI:

Australia skipper Michael Clarke admitted that he had been wrong in choosing to bat first against Pakistan in the second One-Day International (ODI) between the two teams in Abu Dhabi on Friday.

Pakistan thumped Australia by seven wickets to level the three-match series at 1-1, leaving the prospect of an intriguing third match in Sharjah tomorrow. Australia won the first match by four wickets in Sharjah. Clarke said that electing to bat first after winning the toss had backfired.

"We trained here and there was nowhere near that much dew, so it was certainly a surprise for all of us once we walked out to field," said Clarke. "So it was the wrong decision after winning the toss to bat first."

Sparked by a resolute 61 from Michael Hussey, Australia posted 248 for nine with Saeed Ajmal taking four for 32 runs. Nasir Jamshed smashed a 98-ball 97 to put Pakistan on track before Azhar Ali (59*) and Misbahul Haq (39*) helped Pakistan chase down the target with over six overs to spare.

"Full credit to Pakistan, they played really well, they bowled really well, then they came out and played really well with the bat. I don't want to take anything away from Pakistan, they outplayed us."

Misbah agreed it was a good toss to lose.

“Both the teams were not sure about what was going to happen because there wasn't so much dew,” said the Pakistan captain. “But dew was a major factor on Friday, so it was a good toss to lose."

Pakistan will wait on the fitness of Shahid Afridi, who missed Friday's game because of a back injury. The former captain is expected to undergo a fitness test today.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2012.