The three-ring circus: Australia clinch dead rubber to claim series 3-0
In last over, Maxwell took the final two wickets without conceding a single run
ABU DHABI:
Australia won the final match of the home series in Abu Dhabi yesterday by one run to whitewash Pakistan 3-0.
Chasing a gettable 232, Pakistan got off to a solid start but no batsman was able to convert his start into a big score, with Asad Shafiq top scoring with 50, as wickets fell at regular intervals.
After having added 30 for the seventh wicket partnership, it seemed that Umar Amin and Anwar Ali would see Pakistan home with only 28 required off 32 balls. However, first Amin and then Ali lost their wickets in quick succession to hand the initiative to the men from down under.
The match turned once again as Zulfiqar Babar and Sohail Tanvir added 22 to bring Pakistan to within touching distance. But with only two runs required off the last over, there was still time for one final twist in the tale as Glenn Maxwell managed to take the final two wickets without conceding a single run to hand Australia a win that sees them retain the number one spot in the ICC rankings.
Deciding to bat first, the Australian batsmen were kept in check by tidy bowling from the Pakistani bowlers. Stand-in captain Shahid Afridi would have been happy with his side’s bowling performance as all bowlers kept a tight line to restrict Australia to 231. However, it was enough to give Australia their narrowest ever win over Pakistan.
Australia won the final match of the home series in Abu Dhabi yesterday by one run to whitewash Pakistan 3-0.
Chasing a gettable 232, Pakistan got off to a solid start but no batsman was able to convert his start into a big score, with Asad Shafiq top scoring with 50, as wickets fell at regular intervals.
After having added 30 for the seventh wicket partnership, it seemed that Umar Amin and Anwar Ali would see Pakistan home with only 28 required off 32 balls. However, first Amin and then Ali lost their wickets in quick succession to hand the initiative to the men from down under.
The match turned once again as Zulfiqar Babar and Sohail Tanvir added 22 to bring Pakistan to within touching distance. But with only two runs required off the last over, there was still time for one final twist in the tale as Glenn Maxwell managed to take the final two wickets without conceding a single run to hand Australia a win that sees them retain the number one spot in the ICC rankings.
Deciding to bat first, the Australian batsmen were kept in check by tidy bowling from the Pakistani bowlers. Stand-in captain Shahid Afridi would have been happy with his side’s bowling performance as all bowlers kept a tight line to restrict Australia to 231. However, it was enough to give Australia their narrowest ever win over Pakistan.