Australia Level Series With Symonds Back In Form

Australia Level Series With Symonds Back In Form

Michael Clarke (left) scored a patient, unbeaten innings to guide his side home.

©REUTERS/Nikhil Monteiro (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Australia 208-4 (Symonds 58, Hopes 48) beat
Pakistan 207 (Salman Butt 57, Hauritz 3-41) by six wickets
Scorecard
2nd One Day International, Dubai Sports City, Dubai

Andrew Symonds scored a half-century as Australia hit back to level their One Day International series against Pakistan with a six-wicket win in Dubai.

Symonds made 58 in 62 balls, combining with captain Michael Clarke (39 not out) to add a vital 90 runs for the fourth wicket after Australia lost two wickets in three balls chasing 208 to win.

James Hopes, opening the innngs with Brad Haddin, was trapped in front by Shahid Afridi for 48 two balls after Saeed Ajmal had Shane Watson caught by Misbah-ul-Haq for 30 as Pakistan kept themselves in with a chance having failed to bat out their overs after winning the toss.

Symonds hit four fours and one six while Clarke's innings was far more patient, the captain facing 72 deliveries and the other unbeaten batsman at the close was Callum Ferguson, who made ten.

Shahid Afridi finished with two for 38 and Umar Gul was the other bowler to pick up a wicket when he bowled Brad Haddin in the fourth over for eight.

Salman Butt had held Pakistan's innings with 57, overcoming a complete communication breakdown which saw him and debutant opener Ahmed Shehzad (4) at the same end in the third over, resulting in the run out of Shehzad.

Butt stroked six fours, facing 112 balls in all as wickets fell around him. Off-spinner Nathan Hauritz picked up three for 41 with Hopes and Symonds sharing four wickets.

Afridi, who made 41 in 40 balls and captain Younus Khan, who made a fluent 28, were the next best scorers as Pakistan struggled to maintain the high standards they had set in their four-wicket win two days earlier.

The third match, in Abu Dhabi, is on 27th April.

© Cricket World 2009

Get the latest from Cricket World® with Facebook, twitter and YouTube.