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Rediff.com  » Sports » Australia complete series sweep over Pakistan

Australia complete series sweep over Pakistan

By Julian Linden in Sydney
January 05, 2005 13:45 IST
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Australia strolled to a nine wicket win over Pakistan in the third and final Test on Wednesday to complete a 3-0 series cleansweep.

The Australians wrapped up victory late on the fourth day at the Sydney Cricket Ground, wiping off the 62 required runs in 9.3 overs.

The lone casualty was Justin Langer who was bowled by Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria for 34 with victory just four runs away.

Matthew Hayden finished 23 not out while Australian captain Ricky Ponting drove the only ball he faced to the fence to seal the victory and finish the series with a batting average over 100 after his double-century in the first innings.

Pakistan began the day on 67 for one in their second innings, needing to make at least 264 to force the Australians to bat again, and were dismissed for 325 shortly after tea.

Asim Kamal ensured the tourists at least managed to avoid an innings defeat when he propped up the tail with 87 while opener Yasir Hameed made 63, but their lead of 61 was never enough to worry the world champions.

Shane Warne had been the pick of the Australian bowlers, capturing 4-111 while fellow leg-spinner Stuart MacGill added three scalps to his five from the first innings to win the man of the match award.

The Australians had comfortably won the two previous Tests in Perth and Melbourne inside four days and it had seemed certain Pakistan would concede an innings defeat after slumping to 164 for four before lunch but Kamal defied the bowlers for more than three hours.

Despite running out of partners at regular intervals, Kamal kept his own wicket intact then shared a last-wicket partnership of 55 with test debutant Mohammad Asif, who remained unbeaten on 12.

Hameed had also played strongly at the top of the innings. He began the day on 40 and reached his 50 within the first half an hour of play before his resistance ended when he was trapped leg before wicket by Warne with the total on 104.

Younis Khan and stand-in captain Yousuf Youhana steadied the innings with a third wicket stand of 60 only to fall in successive deliveries just before lunch.

Youhana departed for 30 when he was bowled around his legs by MacGill, then Younis followed next ball when Shane Watson trapped him lbw, giving the all rounder his first Test wicket.

Pakistan went to lunch at 172 for four but piled on 151 in an extended afternoon session before Australia finished them off after tea.

Scoreboard:

Pakistan first innings 304

Australia first innings 568

Pakistan second innings (overnight 67-1)
Salman Butt c Warne b MacGill 21
Yasir Hameed lbw b Warne 63
Younis Khan lbw b Watson 44
Yousuf Youhana b MacGill 30
Asim Kamal c Ponting b Gillespie 87
Shahid Afridi run out 46
Kamran Akmal c Hayden b Warne 4
Naved-ul-Hasan lbw b Warne 9
Shoaib Akhtar c Martyn b Warne 0
Danish Kaneria b MacGill 0
Mohammad Asif not out 12

Extras (b-4 lb-3 nb-2) 9

Total (all out, 89.2 overs) 325

Fall of wickets: 1-21 2-104 3-164 4-164 5-238 6-243 7-261 8-269 9-270 10-325

Bowling: McGrath 16-2-53-0, Gillespie 13.2-2-39-1 (nb-1), Warne 26-2-111-4, MacGill 25-3-83-3, Watson 9-2-32-1 (nb-1)

Australia second innings
J.Langer b Kaneria 34
M.Hayden not out 23
R.Ponting not out 4

Extras (nb-1) 1

Total (for one wicket, 9.3 overs) 62

Bowling: Naved-ul-Hasan 3-0-28-0, Mohammad Asif 2-0-16-0, Danish Kaneria 2.3-0-16-1, Shahid Afridi 2-0-2-0

Result: Australia won by nine wickets

Man of the match: Stuart MacGill (Australia)

 

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Julian Linden in Sydney
Source: REUTERS
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