Australia beat Pakistan four times in a row

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Australia beat Pakistan four times in a row

PERTH: Pakistan once again showed disappointing performance against Australia being defeated in the fourth consecutive One-day International here at the WACA ground on Friday.

Chasing a difficult target of 278 runs, the entire Pakistan team collapsed for a mere 142 in 37.5 overs, giving Australia a 135-run big-margin victory.

Australia are leading the five-match series 4-0 with one ODI remaining and they are aiming for another whitewash after making a clean sweep in the three-Test series.

Pakistan were in trouble right from the beginning with losing opener Salman Butt (nought) in the very first over and later Younis Khan (6) when they were on just 14.

Kamran Akmal also went for 17 and then captain Mohammad Yousuf for 10, Pakistan were reeling at 39 for four.

Later, young batsmen Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam added 60 valuable runs for the fifth wicket before Fawad was run out for 21.

Umar Akmal made 38 , the highest score of the Pakistan innings, with two fours and a six. He was bowled by Ryan Harris who on his next delivery got Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

Shahid Afridi came at the crease and started hitting every ball, hammering two towering sixes and three magnificent fours. He made 29 off just 10 balls and threw away his wicket in his usual fashion.

Then, Australian bowlers wiped off the tail to achieve their fourth successive victory.

Harris again emerged as the most successful bowler , bagging five wickets for 19, his second consecutive five-wicket haul.

Pakistan were set a difficult target of 278 runs by Australia in the fourth One-day International here at the WACA ground on Friday.

Winning the toss, Australian captain Ricky Ponting decided to bat first and his team made 277-8 in the allotted 50 overs.

Pakistan were looking a better team this time with an improved fielding and their bowlers bowled quite well to dismiss four Aussie batsmen for 110 runs in 22 overs.

However, Cameron White and Michael Hussey came to their rescue and they took the score to 159 before White went on 44.

When James Hopes was bowled by Mohammad Asif for 16 and Australia were 190 for six then Nathal Hauritz joined Hussey and both blasted a brisk partnership of 80 runs from just 56 balls.

Hussey made 67 off 75 balls with four boundaries while Hauritz was more aggressive to smash four sixes and a four. He remained unbeaten on 53, which he made from 39 balls.

For Pakistan, fast bowler Asif was the most successful bowler with three wickets for 42 runs while off-spinner Saeed Ajmal claimed two wickets. Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shahid Afridi took one wicket each.

[Mohammad Sajid]

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