Strong bowling from Clint McKay and Ryan Harris restricted Pakistan to 212 from 49.3 overs but the home side took the difficult route to victory, struggling to a two-wicket win with four balls to spare.
Mike Hussey took on the familiar role of middle-order savior, made famous by predecessor Michael Bevan, and helped Australia avoid an embarrassing final-match defeat with a coolly struck 40 not out.
The plumb lbw of Nathan Hauritz (18) on the first ball of the final over added a late twist to the tale, but Australia pulled off one of its trademark one-day escapes.
Harris confidently struck his first delivery for two runs to tie the match, before an anti-climatic finish robbed Pakistan of a ninth wicket when a no-ball voided Shahid Afridi’s catch and confirmed Australia’s win.
After claiming 4 for 35 at the WACA ground today, McKay finished the series as the leading wicket-taker with 14 while Harris’s stunning form netted 13 in just three matches. That earned him the man of the series award for 13 wickets at the incredible average of 8.15, highlighted by his 5 for 19 in game four.
Afridi banned for ball tampering
Pakistani all-rounder Shahid Afridi was on Sunday banned for two Twenty20 Internationals after pleading guilty to a ball-tampering charge during the fifth and final ODI against Australia in Perth.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam confirmed that Match Referee Ranjan Madugalle has banned Afridi for two matches after holding a hearing on the complaint by on-field umpires Asoka De Silva and Paul Reiffel immediately after the match.
Ball-tampering normally results from fingernails being run down the seam but Afridi, for reasons only he could explain, seemed intent on putting the entire ball in his mouth.
Trying to change the condition of the ball through illegal means prompts strict penalties from the ICC.
In 2005, Afridi was banned for twisting his spikes and trying to change condition of pitch during a Test match in Faisalabad against England.
Chief selector quits
Meanwhile in Karachi the chief selector of Pakistan’s cricket team resigned on Sunday, saying he was disappointed with the team’s performance.
Iqbal Qasim announced his resignation soon after Pakistan’s 5-0 defeat on Sunday.
“I am very disappointed, like millions of Pakistanis, over the manner in which the Pakistan team lost the Test series 3-0 and one-day series 5-0,” Qasim said.
“As I am responsible for the selection of the team, I quit my post.” Qasim said he had made up his mind to quit after the team’s fourth one-day defeat on Friday.
“We have not received his resignation and I too got to know of this news through the media. Once the decision is conveyed, only then we will take the matter further,” Sarwar said.
