SYDNEY: Australia won the 4th One-Day International (ODI) at Sydney Cricket Ground by 86 runs to seal the five-match series by 3-1 with one match to go.
Chasing a challenging 354 runs target, Pakistan was all out at 286 runs in 44th overs. No Pakistanis batsman except Sharjeel Khan put up any solid resistance to Aussies attack. With the defeat, Pakistan also lost the series to Australia with one match remaining.
Opener Sharjeel Khan hit a rapid fifty (74) to give Pakistan a good start to chase the gigantic total of 354 set by Australia. He fell to Adam Zampa with a catch at boundary which slowed down Pakistan chase. Though Shoaib Malik and Hafeez put up some resistance, but their departure saw Pakistan off to a rapid start .
Malik scored 47, Hafeez for 40 and Akmal for 11.
Captain Azhar Ali, returning from a hamstring injury to lead Pakistan once again, fell cheaply early into the innings. Azam departed for 31.
JR Hazlewood and A Zampa shared three wickets apiece for Australasia while TM Head took two wickets.
Hasan Ali claimed his career-best five-for-52 with wickets of Usman Khawaja, David Warner, captain Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade.
Earlier, Warner blasted 130 while Smith went for 49, as Australia fired off to a rapid start against Pakistan. Maxwell scored quick 78 runs.
Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. The hosts announced two changes to their playing 11, while Pakistan’s skipper Azhar Ali returned from a hamstring injury.
