Australia rout Pakistan

Australia produced a clinical performance to beat Pakistan by seven wickets on Saturday, the world champions easing to their target of 258 with 4.2 overs to spare to win the second match of the triangular series.

A second-wicket partnership of 92 from 88 balls between Mark Waugh and man-of-the-match Ricky Ponting put the Australians on course for victory.

Captain Steve Waugh and Michael Bevan then added an unbroken 116 for the fourth wicket to guide their side home.

It was the first meeting between the two teams in England since the 1999 World Cup final, won by Australia by six wickets.

Pakistan launched the tournament on Thursday by beating England by 108 runs.

The Australians lost an early wicket when Adam Gilchrist was beaten for pace by Shoaib Akhtar and bowled for 13, but Ponting struck his first two deliveries for four and continued to time the ball superbly with three boundaries in one over from Waqar Younis and a ferocious pull-hook off Shoaib.

Shoaib bowled one delivery unofficially timed at 97.7 miles per hour, quicker than the 97.5 mph ball credited to Australian Brett Lee in a one-day international last year, but was forced to leave the field through illness after his opening spell and failed to return.

Mark Waugh, dropped by Inzamam-ul-Haq at slip off Akhtar, also looked in prime touch as Australia made 74 for one after 10 overs.

The introduction of medium-pacers Azhar Mahmood and Abdur Razzaq stemmed the flow of runs, but Waugh raised the 100 in the 16th over with another beautifully timed late cut for four.

THREE RUNS SHORT

He fell three runs short of his 50, caught by stand-in wicketkeeper Younis Khan off Razzaq, but Ponting reached his 25th one-day international half century, including nine fours, before holing out to Razzaq at long on off Saqlain Mushtaq for 70.

After Ponting's dismissal, Steve Waugh and Bevan gathered runs almost at will, running well between the wickets and punishing any loose deliveries as the captain completed his 42nd one-day half-century, from 57 balls, and Bevan his 36th, from 81.

Waugh finished unbeaten on 54 and Bevan 56.

Pakistan, who won the toss, were rescued from a poor start by a seventh-wicket partnership of 124 from 127 balls between Yousuf Youhana, who made 91 not out and Rashid Latif, who suffered from dehydration after his innings of 66.

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne had taken three wickets, including two in his first over, as Pakistan slumped to 86 for six midway through the innings.

But Youhana, who was dropped when he had made 10, and Latif turned things round.

SURPRISE INCLUSION

Lee had made the first breakthrough following his surprise inclusion in the team when he had Shahid Afridi brilliantly caught by Mark Waugh at second slip in his second over.

Lee, recovering from elbow surgery, only played because of injuries to seamers Damien Fleming, Jason Gillespie and Nathan Bracken.

He bowled an impressive first spell before suffering at the hands of Youhana and Latif and finishing with figures of one for 85 from his 10 overs.

Warne removed Razzaq for nine with his first ball of the tournament, and two deliveries later dismissed dangerman Inzamam for a duck, both stumped by Gilchrist.

Only opener Saeed Anwar looked comfortable, the left-handed opener profiting from being dropped by Gilchrist off McGrath when he had made four to score 35 before falling to Ian Harvey.

Younis was trapped lbw by Harvey for 13 and Mahmood was also deceived by Warne, edging the ball to Gilchrist to leave Pakistan in deep trouble.

Youhana and Latif played positively, though, Youhana reaching his 50 from 72 balls and Latif following him to the landmark in the same over from 61 deliveries before smiting Lee over long-off for six.

Latif was eventually run out, his 66 runs coming from 68 deliveries, but Youhana, who struck eight fours in his 103-ball knock, managed to shepherd the tail effectively as Pakistan scored 83 runs from their last 10 overs.

England play Australia on Sunday at Bristol in the tournament's next match.

Complete Scorecard

Mail Cricket Editor