SYDNEY: Australia demolished Pakistan with clinical precision yet again to take a 2-0 lead in the one-day series with a thumping 140-run triumph over the hapless tourists in their second One-day International here at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.
Pakistani fans, who formed a small but vocal part of a crowd of almost 31,000, watched in disbelief as their team crashed out for just 127 in 37.3 overs while chasing 268 in a bid to level this five-match series.
Australia were always in control after Shane Watson (69) and first match hero Cameron White (55) smashed powerful fifties to help the hosts post 267-6 after being surprisingly put into bat by the Pakistanis on a good batting track. Watson found the rope nine times in his 71-ball knock, besides hitting a towering sixer. He put on 100 runs for the first wicket with Shaun Marsh (41) to set the platform for a big total.
White provided the innings with some fireworks towards the end, following his match-winning 105 at the Gabba with a 58-ball 55 that included four boundaries and a six. The Victorian added 42 in the last four overs with the help of Brad Haddin, who hit an entertaining cameo of 27 off just 14 balls with three hits to the fence.
Later, Australia’s pace trio of Doug Bollinger (2-19), Peter Siddle (1-23) and rookie Clint McKay made short work of Pakistan with a lethal bowling display that was too good for Pakistan.
Pakistan began the run-chase on a disastrous note as they lost opener Salman Butt (2) and Younis Khan (0) in the fifth over. Butt edged an angling Bollinger delivery to second slip where White took a comfortable catch. Younis, who struggled in his 48 on his return to international cricket in Brisbane on Friday, fell in similar fashion to leave Pakistan at 7-2 in 5 overs.
Yousuf began to rebuild the innings with Kamran Akmal before a suicidal run-out ended their brief partnership. Akmal wanted a single, which wasn’t there and was sent back by Yousuf but McKay fielded superbly off his own bowling and then hit the stumps to send Akmal back in the dressing room.
Two balls later, his younger brother Umar followed him back after falling to a stunning delivery from Peter Siddle that struck his off stump.
Shoaib Malik used up 24 balls to make just two but when Pakistan needed him to start scoring the former captain fell to McKay with Ricky Ponting pulling off a blinder at point. It was an incredible catch from the 35-year-old Aussie captain who grabbed it with his wrong hand while diving to his left.
Any hopes of a Pakistan fight back vanished when Afridi was dismissed in the 22nd over, caught and bowled by Watson. The vice-captain left his side reeling at 58-6.
Aamir didn’t last long but Rana Naved-ul-Hasan fought hard for a 22-ball 27 that included two huge sixers. He shared a 48-run stand for the eighth wickets – the highest of the innings – but fell to Hauritz while attempting another big one.
It was all over in the 36th over when Yousuf fell to McKay, trying to flick one down the leg side only to find Hauritz ready to take a simple catch.
The visitors were mostly under pressure after Yousuf blundered by opting to bowl first after winning the toss, hoping that the cloud cover would help his bowlers to shine like they did on the opening day of the second Test here early this month. It was a surprising call considering that most captain always decide to bat at the SCG in an ODI because chasing is a tough job at this venue.
