Australia defeated Pakistan by 20 runs in the fifth and final one-day international at Dubai International Stadium here on Sunday, sweeping the five-match series 5-0. Chasing formidable target of 328, Pakistan managed 307 for the loss of 7 wickets despite Haris Sohail’s dazzling knock of 130. Opener Shan Masood made 50, skipper Imad Wasim hit half-century while middle-order batsman Umar Akmal scored 43 runs. This is Australia’s eighth consecutive one-day international win after winning the last three matches in a 3-2 series win in India.
Usman Khawaja propels Australia to 327-7: Earlier, opener Usman Khawaja missed a deserved hundred by two runs as Australia punished Pakistan in the final one-day international. Khawaja was all set for his third hundred this month but fell for 98 which lifted Australia to an imposing 327-7 in 50 overs after they were sent into bat on a flat Dubai stadium pitch. Glenn Maxwell celebrated his 100th one-day international with a thumping 33-ball 70, Shaun Marsh scored 68-ball 61 and skipper Aaron Finch made 69-ball 53 to lead a run spree against a hapless Pakistan bowling attack. It was Maxwell’s ten fours and three sixes that helped Australia to 107 runs in the last ten overs. He was finally bowled by paceman Junaid Khan who finished with three wickets for 73.
Khawaja, who hit ten boundaries in his 111-ball innings, set the platform with a solid 134-run opening stand with Finch for pair’s second hundred run stand in the series, which Australia lead 4-0. Finch was finally bowled by pacer Usman Shinwari, finishing with 451 runs in the series, only 27 short of George Bailey’s record in a bilateral series he made against India in 2013.
Khawaja, who made his first two ODI career hundreds in India earlier this month, was all set for his third but fell to a miscued drive off Shinwari, who finished with 4-49. Khawaja added 80 for the second wicket with Marsh who hit five fours and a six in his 68-ball knock.
Pakistan were once again with skipper Shoaib Malik, who was rested after failing to fully recover from a rib injury which also forced him to miss the last game on Friday. Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas came in for Mohammad Hasnain while Australia replaced Nathan Coulter-Nile with Jason Behrendorff. For Pakistan, Usman Shinwari took four wickets and Junaid Khan three.