Australia A win one-day series
Australia A clinched ended their tour of Pakistan on a high by clinching the one-day series
Cricinfo staff
27-Sep-2005
Australia A 273 for 7 (Jaques 114, White 59*) beat Pakistan A 176 (Bazid 95, Cullen 2-13, Bracken 2-15) by 97 runs
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Australia A ended their tour of Pakistan on a high by clinching the one-day series with a superb all round performance at Lahore. Phil Jaques cracked a run-a-ball 114, then all the Australian bowlers chipped in to dismiss Pakistan A out for 176, despite Bazid Khan's 95.
However, at the start of the day Australia certainly did not have everything their own way. Pakistan's pace attack of Mohammad Sami, Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif found assistance from the pitch and reduced Australia to 87 for 4 in the 20th over. Shane Watson joined Jaques and the pair added 85 runs to steady the innings in little more than 15 overs.
Jaques reached his hundred off 99 balls and even when he and Watson fell before the 40th over the innings did not fizzle out - thanks to a brilliant innings from Cameron White. Following his century in the second match, White blitzed the Pakistan attack to all parts as he smacked 59 from 43 balls - twice clearing the ropes for six. With support from Chris Hartley and Nathan Bracken he ensured the score passed 270.
Two balls into the Pakistan run chase the target appeared even further away when Salman Butt was trapped lbw by Stuart Clark. Nathan Bracken was also in the wickets and by the sixth over both bowlers had claimed two strikes - leaving Pakistan in tatters at 16 for 4.
The innings never recovered as Mick Lewis and Shane Watson added their names to the wicket list, reducing Pakistan to 99 for 7. The score was given some respectability by Bazid and Tahir Khan - Pakistan's Supersub - through a stand of 61. Bazid struck 12 fours in his 96 and deserved a century before being the last man out, caught-and-bowled by Dan Cullen, the promising offspinner.
Tim Nielsen, the coach, was delighted with the tour: "The tour provided us the much needed competition, quite exactly what we asked for, and proved that we have quality players to get elevated to the Australian national team."