Maxwell Blast Hands Australia Series Win

Maxwell Blast Hands Australia Series Win

Michael Hussey set up Australia's victory with an innings of 65 before Glenn Maxwell finished off the job with a belligerent half-century

©REUTERS / Action Images

Australia 250-7 (M Hussey 65, Maxwell 56no) beat
Pakistan 244-7 (Starc 4-51) by three wickets
Third One-Day International, Sharjah
Scorecard

Glenn Maxwell's maiden half-century guided Australia to a series-clinching three-wicket win over Pakistan in the third and final One-Day International in Sharjah.

After Pakistan reached 244 for seven, an innings in which Mitchell Starc grabbed four for 51, Michael Hussey hit 65 and Maxwell 56 not out as Australia got home with three overs to spare.

Pakistan got off to a good start with the bat as openers Nasir Jamshed (48) and Mohammad Hafeez (78) added 129 for the first wicket but they faded somewhat afterwards.

After Mitchell Johnson (2-33) removed Jamshed and Shahid Afridi for seven, Starc dismissed Asad Shafiq (27), Misbah-ul-Haq (25), Umar Akmal (0) and Kamran Akmal (2) as Australia produced an effective comeback with the ball. The other man to take a wicket was captain Michael Clarke, who trapped Hafeez in front.

In reply, Australia made good progress with openers David Warner (21) and David Hussey (43) making good use of the fielding restrictions, Hussey hitting three sixes before he was caught by Abdur Rehman off Saeed Ajmal.

Clarke made a fluent 32 before Michael Hussey came to the crease and put Australia in prime position with an innings of 65 in 72 balls that included seven fours and a six.

However, Ajmal inspired a wobble by dismissing Hussey, Clarke and George Bailey (1) and after Matthew Wade fell for 22, cool heads were needed to see Australia home.

Fortunately for them, Maxwell - in just his fourth match - delivered by stroking 56 not out in just 38 balls, hitting four fours and three sizes to finish the match in emphatic fashion.

The late dismissal of Daniel Christian for two proved to be a mere detail as Australia charged to the series win, Ajmal finishing with three for 37 on the losing side.

The two sides now begin a three-match Twenty20 International series that gets underway on 5th September. For that series, Australia have added young fast bowler Alister McDermott to their squad. He had been included in the ODI squad and having acclimatised to conditions, will provide bowling cover.

© Cricket World 2012