Clarke and Bollinger lead Australia to series victory
Leading from the front . . . Michael Clarke scored a century to give Australia a series victory over Pakistan.Photo: AP
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May 2, 2009
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Australia's acting captain Michael Clarke says his team can take pride in the way they have handled tough conditions to notch a long-awaited one-day international series victory.
Clarke starred with an unbeaten century to guide Australia to a commanding eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi which gave them an unbeatable 3-1 lead in their five-game series.
Chasing Pakistan's 197 all out, Australia reached 2-200 in the 45th over on the back of an unbroken 197-run stand between Clarke and Shane Watson.
Clarke finished unbeaten on 100 with Watson on 85, the two highest scores by any individual batsmen in the four games so far, while their partnership was far and away the highest in a series that has been dominated by bowlers.
They came together with Australia in serious trouble at 2-3 in the third over, after paceman Shoaib Akhtar had taken wickets in each of his first two overs.
The win gave Australia their first series victory since last September, when they beat Bangladesh in Darwin.
Since then they have lost two series against South Africa and had a drawn series against New Zealand.
Clarke said breaking that drought, particularly on foreign territory, was much more significant than bringing up his own century.
"I couldn't care less (whether I reached the 100) to be honest, it didn't really bother me," he said.
"As I said to Watto, I said just keep batting and let's just get these runs.
"For me it's about winning the series, I'm stoked personally to make some runs, but I'm more happy that we've won the series.
"It's been a while since we've won a one-day series and to play the type of cricket we have in tough conditions, hot conditions, tough wickets, especially after coming from South Africa, the conditions have been so different.
"I'm rapt with the way we've performed, this group."
Clarke said while himself and Watson performed with the bat in this match, the bowlers had been very good throughout the series and had again laid the platform for the batsmen in this game.
Left-arm paceman Doug Bollinger was the star with the ball, picking up 5-35 in his second one-day international, after going wicketless in his first in Dubai a week earlier.
It was a fine effort by Bollinger, who picked up a wicket in the match's opening over, and struck again in two more spells, with Clarke using the bowlers in short bursts because the match was played in extreme heat.
"A lot of credit has to go to our bowlers, Dougy's come in and he's had to wait a long time for his opportunity," Clarke said.
"Not only has he repaid the selectors for showing him faith, but I think he's done a lot to push his name forward for future one-day selection and maybe even the Twenty20 World Cup.
"I think he's bowled beautifully and the rest of the guys, the rest of the bowlers, probably didn't get the same rewards as Dougy today but they did a fantastic job."
AAP Source; smh.com.au
Leading from the front . . . Michael Clarke scored a century to give Australia a series victory over Pakistan.Photo: AP
Latest related coverage
IPL Blazing Hodge can't save Knight Riders from IPL defeat
Picking the bowlers a tough task for Ashes selectors
Yuvraj heroics not enough to deny Bangalore
Umpires upset Gilly as Deccan charge halted
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Other related coverage
Triumph for stand-in skipper to savour
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Too hot to trot as runs dry up in the desert
Clarke guides Australia to victory
Symonds's return is lifting spirits, says Clarke
Advertisement
May 2, 2009
Scorecard
Australia's acting captain Michael Clarke says his team can take pride in the way they have handled tough conditions to notch a long-awaited one-day international series victory.
Clarke starred with an unbeaten century to guide Australia to a commanding eight-wicket win over Pakistan in Abu Dhabi which gave them an unbeatable 3-1 lead in their five-game series.
Chasing Pakistan's 197 all out, Australia reached 2-200 in the 45th over on the back of an unbroken 197-run stand between Clarke and Shane Watson.
Clarke finished unbeaten on 100 with Watson on 85, the two highest scores by any individual batsmen in the four games so far, while their partnership was far and away the highest in a series that has been dominated by bowlers.
They came together with Australia in serious trouble at 2-3 in the third over, after paceman Shoaib Akhtar had taken wickets in each of his first two overs.
The win gave Australia their first series victory since last September, when they beat Bangladesh in Darwin.
Since then they have lost two series against South Africa and had a drawn series against New Zealand.
Clarke said breaking that drought, particularly on foreign territory, was much more significant than bringing up his own century.
"I couldn't care less (whether I reached the 100) to be honest, it didn't really bother me," he said.
"As I said to Watto, I said just keep batting and let's just get these runs.
"For me it's about winning the series, I'm stoked personally to make some runs, but I'm more happy that we've won the series.
"It's been a while since we've won a one-day series and to play the type of cricket we have in tough conditions, hot conditions, tough wickets, especially after coming from South Africa, the conditions have been so different.
"I'm rapt with the way we've performed, this group."
Clarke said while himself and Watson performed with the bat in this match, the bowlers had been very good throughout the series and had again laid the platform for the batsmen in this game.
Left-arm paceman Doug Bollinger was the star with the ball, picking up 5-35 in his second one-day international, after going wicketless in his first in Dubai a week earlier.
It was a fine effort by Bollinger, who picked up a wicket in the match's opening over, and struck again in two more spells, with Clarke using the bowlers in short bursts because the match was played in extreme heat.
"A lot of credit has to go to our bowlers, Dougy's come in and he's had to wait a long time for his opportunity," Clarke said.
"Not only has he repaid the selectors for showing him faith, but I think he's done a lot to push his name forward for future one-day selection and maybe even the Twenty20 World Cup.
"I think he's bowled beautifully and the rest of the guys, the rest of the bowlers, probably didn't get the same rewards as Dougy today but they did a fantastic job."
AAP Source; smh.com.au
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