Melbourne: Pakistan finished their Australian tour just as they had started it — with a defeat! Australia won the only twenty20 match between the two teams by 2 runs to finish a tour where Pakistan couldn’t manage to win or draw a single game.

Pakistan, however, put up their best bowling performance of the entire tour bowling Australia out for 127. But even a modest target of 128 proved to be a bit too much for the tourists as they fell short by 2 runs in front of a dazzling exhibition of fast bowling by the Australians.

Kamran Akmal perfectly set up the game for Pakistan with a blistering knock of 64 off just 33 balls and Umar Akmal took them till the final over. Needing 10 runs off the final over being bowled by Shane Watson, Akmal holed in the deep of the first ball to put an end to any hopes that Pakistan had of registering their first win of the tour. Mohammad Asif hit a boundary of the final ball of the innings but Pakistan could only reach 125 for 9, falling short by 2 runs.

Pakistan were rattled right from the very first over of their innings with Shaun Tait, returning from a career threatening injury, sending down thunderbolts at the Pakistan openers. He consistently touched the 155 km/h mark with one delivery registering the speed of 160.7 km/h, a speed that has only been bettered by Shoaib Akhtar. Dirk Nannes, bowling from the other hand, wasn’t as fast as Tait but fast enough to cause problems to the batsmen.

Shaun Tait finished with career-best figures of 3-13 off 4 overs, including the all-important wicket of Kamran Akmal, while Shane Watson and Steve Smith took two wickets apiece.

Earlier, winning the toss and opting to bat first, Australia were bowled out for 127 off 18.4 overs. The home team lost Shane Watson in the second over run out for 8. David Warner, however, lifted the hosts with a typically aggressive 24 from just 14 balls.

Captain Michael Clarke (32 off 26 balls) added quick runs with Warner but once the duo fell in quick succession, Pakistan made a strong comeback into the game with some uncharacteristically brilliant fielding and accurate fast bowling. Umar Gul, now known mostly for his exploits in Twenty20 cricket, was the pick of the bowlers finishing with figures of 3 for 20 off 3.4 overs.

David Hussey remained unbeaten on 40 and helped Australia reach a score in excess of 100.

Having completed a thorough whitewash, Australia now get set to take on the West Indies in a five-match one-day series from Sunday while Pakistan, beaten and bruised, would aim for redemption when the resume their cricketing calendar with a visit to the Emirates for a series against England.

Match Summary:

Australia 127 (Hussey 40*, Gul 3-20) beat Pakistan 9 for 125 (K Akmal 64, Tait 3-13) by 2 runs

Man of the Match: Shaun Tait

Tagged with: Australia, David Hussey, Dirk Nannes, Kamran Akmal, Melbourne, Michael Clarke, Pakistan, Shaun Tait, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul

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