Pak end tour with another loss
Melbourne, Feb. 5: Pakistan left the Australian shores empty handed after slumping to a two-run defeat in a thrilling one-off Twenty20 international against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.
Chasing a modest target of 128 after their bowlers restricted the high-flying Aussies, Pakistan capitulated to the hosts’ pace attack. A strong rearguard from Kamran Akmal (64) wasn’t enough to snatch victory to end what was a dismal tour for Pakistan.
Umar Akmal carried Pakistan’s hopes into the final over, but with 10 runs to get from the final over from Shane Watson, Akmal holed out in the deep off the first ball to signal the end. Mohammad Asif smacked a boundary off the last ball but the visitors still fell two runs short.
Returning after a long hiatus, Shaun Tait (3/13) resurrected his reputation as a tearaway, sending down thunderbolts in the high 150kmph mark from the first ball. The South Australian paceman bowled the quickest ball of the day, clocked at 160.7 kmph. Dirk Nannes from the other end was a shade slower but was good enough to rattle the Pakistanis. Earlier, Pakistan began on a strong note as the hosts lost Shane Watson in the second over. David Warner, however, lifted the hosts with a typically aggressive 24 off just 14 balls. — Agencies
Scores: Australia 127 in 18.4 overs (Hussey 40 n.o., Clarke 32, Warner 24; Gul 3/20) bt Pakistan 125/9 in 20 overs (Akmal 64; Tait 3/13)
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