Top order collapse hands Australia another comfortable win

Pakistan’s top order batsmen failed to deliver yet again which resulted in the hosts completing another comprehensive win to take a 4-0 series lead.

Australia beat Pakistan by a massive margin of 135 runs to extend their lead in the series and continue to dominate an unsettled looking Pakistan side.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to put a competitive total on the board. They got off to a very cautious start, scoring only 40 runs in the Quick start overs while also losing the wicket of Shaun Marsh. The Pakistani bowlers did well to keep the pressure and push Australia onto the back-foot, having reduced them to 110 for four in the 22nd over. Cameron White and Michael Hussey continued to impress as the pair added 49 runs for the fifth wicket and got Australia into a much better position to make a charge in the Extreme Performance overs. Nathan Hauritz surprised everyone with his performance as he sent the ball to all parts of the ground, scoring a quick fire 51 off just 37 balls, pushing Australia’s total to 277 at the end of 50 overs.

The visitors has their task cut out and they got off to the worst possible start in their run chase. They lost all four of their top order batsmen inside the first ten overs, once again putting all the pressure on the inexperienced middle order. Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam tried to put up a fight with a 60 run partnership with Shahid Afridi and Naved-ul-Hasan still to come. But things went from bad to worse as Ryan Harris produced a brilliant second spell, picking up two wickets of consecutive balls as Pakistan lost four wickets in as many overs. It was a matter of time before they were eventually bowled out for 142.

Ryan Harris picked up another five wicket haul to back the one he got in the previous game which made him the obvious Man of the Match.