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Australia beat Pakistan in the MCG thriller

Last updated on: February 05, 2010 19:53 IST

-Scorecard Aus vs Pak, T20

Shaun TaitPakistan failed to end their disastrous Australia tour on happy note, as they lost the only Twenty20 match at Melbourne Cricket Ground by two runs on Friday.

Pakistan were a different outfit in the field and dismissed the home side for a paltry 127 runs in 18.4 overs, but their batting fell the same way it did in the three Tests and five One-dayers as Australia fought back to dismiss them for 9-125 in their 20 overs.

Australia elected to bat first after winning the toss and cruised to 1-50 in 6 overs, before Pakistan bowlers struck back to take wickets at regular intervals.

The home side lost their last nine wickets for 73 and only David Hussey (40 not out), Michael Clarke (32) and David Warner (24) reached double figures.

Hussey ran out of partners with eight balls remaining, against some good bowling from Umar Gul (3-20) and Shoaib Malik (2-31) and sharp fielding, which included three run-outs, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Pakistan's reply got off to a bad start, as opening pair Imran Farhat and Imran Nazir went back to pavilion on the score of 10.

Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait was the star with 3-11, as he claimed wickets in his second and third over.

Tait also struck in his 15th over, where he removed the dangerous Kamran Akmal, whose 64 from 33 balls had the tourists headed for a breakthrough win.

Dirk Nannes and Shane Watson bowled brilliantly at the death and conceded nine runs in the final two overs as Pakistan finished 9-125, even though Mohammad Asif hit the last ball for four.

Source: ANI