Pakistan sweep series with thrilling win
Mohammad Aamer’s successive three-wicket haul helped Pakistan to defend a total above 160 for the second time in a row as Aussies suffered yet another middle-order collapse going down by 11 runs.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan once again lost Shahzaib Hasan for a duck in the first over but this time Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal prevented the Aussies from picking any further wickets and smashed 50 runs in the Quick Start Overs. After sharing 61 runs for the second wicket, both these batsmen departed within a space of three overs but the middle-order didn’t let the run-rate decline and kept on scoring at a brisk rate. A late cameo of 21 runs off 11 balls from Mohammad Aamer helped Pakistan to score 56 runs in the Extreme Performance overs. Dirk Nannes and debutant Stephen O’Keefe picked up three wickets each and finished with Bowling Efficiencies of 124 and 120 respectively.
Chasing 163 for a win, Australia needed to get a positive start, but that wasn’t to be as they were pegged down by two early blows. Skipper Michael Clarke looked in ominous touch, smashing 30 runs from 17 balls. Australia added 47 runs in the Quick Start Overs but lost three crucial wickets in the process. James Hopes and David Hussey fought for a while and shared a 50-run stand for the fourth wicket, the only notable partnership of the innings. Once these two batsmen got out, Australia’s hope started to fade and when Cameron White and Michael Hussey departed, the writing was on the wall. Aussies scored 41 runs in the Extreme Performance Overs and lost five wickets as Aamer and his colleagues picked up wickets at regular intervals. Mohammad Aamer was the pick of the bowlers as he gave just 27 runs in his 4 overs and picked up 3 wickets, finishing with a Bowling Efficiency of 133.
Pakistan finished with a Castrol Index of 162 as compared to Australia’s 130 and the only time Aussies were ahead was in the Extreme Performance Overs. Mohammad Aamer’s bagged the Man-of-the-Match award for his rollicking performance with the ball, earning him the overall Castrol Index of 211. The teams now get ready to face each other in the longest format of the game starting on 13th of July at Lords.
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