Australia wins fourth ODI; seals series

Michael Clarke and Shane Watson put on an unbroken 197-run partnership on Friday to give Australia an eight-wicket win over Pakistan and an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match one-day international series.

Clarke scored 100 from 122 balls and Watson 85 from 140 after Australia was 3-2 at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in pursuit of Pakistan's total of 197, in which Doug Bollinger took five wickets in only his second ODI.

Bollinger took 5-35 as Pakistan was bowled out for its third total of less than 200 in its past four innings. The highest total so far by either team has been 208 by Australia when it chased down Pakistan's target in the second game at Dubai.

Australia's reply on Friday was shaky when Shoaib Akhtar had Brad Haddin caught behind on the second ball of the innings and then trapped debutant Marcus North lbw inside three overs.

However, Pakistan's joy remained short-lived. While Watson took a long time to find his groove, Clarke led by example.

Clarke, the stand-in captain with Ricky Ponting rested for the series, punished Sohail Tanvir with boundaries flicked off the pads, down the ground, through mid-off and cut away square - all during the first powerplay.

Watson tried to match Clarke's fluent stroke-play but put on a contrasting display. It was only after the 35th over when Australia was past the 150-run mark that Watson pulled off some big shots, bringing up his fifty in 100 balls with a six. Clarke took 66 balls to reach his half-century.

Earlier, Ahmed Shehzad top-scored for Pakistan with 43, while Shahid Afridi hit 40 off 40 balls and Misbah-ul-Haq 34 from 75 deliveries after Pakistan captain Younus Khan won the toss and elected to bat.

Salman Butt, who scored 57 and 48 in the previous two games, was dismissed by Bollinger on the third ball of the innings after edging to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Pakistan was 12-2 in the fourth over when Younus was bowled for 7 by Nathan Bracken, who finished with 2-31. It could have been 12-3, but Misbah survived a caught-behind appeal.

Shehzad and Misbah put on 62 until the latter was trapped lbw after going for a slog sweep off part-time spinner Michael Clarke in the 25th over.

Shoaib Malik played positively to improve the scoring rate but Shehzad holed out to Callum Ferguson at long on in the 32nd over, putting Pakistan on the back-foot again.

Bollinger returned and had Malik out lbw to a delivery that nipped back and Afridi top-edged a pull shot to North at mid on, as Pakistan lost its last three wickets for seven runs.