What a turnaround. Pakistan were 95 for no loss, and lost all their wickets for 76 runs. The introduction of spin sparked a change in fortunes for Pakistan, with Hauritz getting rid of Butt, and then Clarke taking two in an over.
It all went downhill from then on, as batsman after batsman either got out playing a needless shot, or was done in by some genuinely good bowling. Australia kept the pressure on as soon as they sniffed a chance at a comeback, and once they had seized the advantage, they didn't take too long to complete the formalities, despite a determined Malik at the crease.
Pakistan have a lot to introspect, and again have lived up to their reputation of being extremely erratic. Their shoddy performance with the bat, after having done very well to restrict Australia, has given Australia a potentially decisive 2-1 lead in this series. Pakistan will now have to come up with something special to pull off a comeback here. Join us in a bit for details from the presentation. No surprises about who's going to be the Man of the Match - Michael Clarke.
Younis Khan: "We lost too many wickets too quickly. This is a young team, we need to learn from Australia. They have this tendency to bounce back. "
Clarke: "Fantastic win. I thought we were about 20-30 runs short, but we bowled and fielded really well. Hauritz bowled superbly. We did well to scramble to 200, but credit to the Pakistan spinners. It was really hard to play the spinners, and we did the job tonight. It's good to make the most of wickets like these. Fielding is all about attitude, and we threw ourselves at everything tonight to pull it off."
That's all we have for today. Australia have bounced back superbly to lead the series 2-1, and Pakistan will have to emulate them to pull of a series win here. Thanks for your feedback. Until the next game on May day, it's goodbye from all of us at Cricinfo. Adios!
Umar Gul b Clark 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
Stuart Clark into the attack
END OF OVER:47 | 2 Runs 2 Wkts | PAK: 171/9 (28 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 3.63, RRR: 9.33)
- Saeed Ajmal0 (3b)
- Umar Gul0 (0b)
- Ben Hilfenhaus6-0-20-1
- Nathan Bracken10-1-37-1
People leave the stadium in their hundreds, and it's all but over now for Pakistan. Saeed Ajmal walks in.
Shoaib Malik run out 30 (56b 2x4 0x6) SR: 53.57
Gul comes in
Pakistan are eight down, and Australia have tightened their stranglehold here. Can Malik pull off a match-winning performance here. He did well with the ball, and his team depend on him to hole them out of this self-inflicted mess.
Sohail Tanvir c Hussey b Hilfenhaus 11 (24b 1x4 0x6) SR: 45.83
The crowd is dead silent.
Bracken, Hauritz and Symonds are done bowling. Hilfenhaus comes back on
END OF OVER:46 | 4 Runs | PAK: 169/7 (30 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 3.67, RRR: 7.50)
- Sohail Tanvir11 (23b)
- Shoaib Malik29 (54b)
- Nathan Bracken10-1-37-1
- Andrew Symonds9-1-41-1
The captain and the bowler have a fairly long discussion. Symonds is also involved. The third man, and square leg have been brought up
