ABU DHABI: Pakistan, led by an aggressive 97 from opening batsman Nasser Jamshed, cruised to a seven-wicket win in the second ODI against Australia to level the series at 1-1.
Jamshed’s innings, which spanned just 98 balls and included 11 fours and two sixes, helped Misbah-ul-Haq’s side make light work on Friday night of what looked set to be a testing target after Australia made 248 for nine.
The 22-year-old shared partnerships of 66 with fellow opener Mohammed Hafeez (23) and 101 with Azhar Ali before miscuing a drive at Mitchell Johnson to be caught at mid-off by Mitchell Starc.
Australia’s bowlers were handicapped by heavy dew in the second innings of a match that spanned two days and finished in the early hours of the morning.
“It was good for us there was so much dew during the second innings but the way Nasser Jamshed played, he showed his class,” Misbah said.
Michael Clarke said on the eve of the match that he wanted bigger scores from his batsmen but although five of them passed 20, only Mike Hussey (61) was able to fifty. He conceded, however, that it was a mistake to bat first after winning the toss. (AFP)