Aamer fires Pakistan to T20 series sweep over Australia
By ANIWednesday, July 7, 2010
EDGBASTON - Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Aamer guided Pakistan to a 2-0 Twenty20 series win over Australia, as they won Tuesday’s second and final game in Edgbaston by 11 runs.
Chasing 163 for victory, Aamer took three wickets for 27, as the Australians were bowled out for 151 with two balls left in the final over.
Aamer made important late runs and then removed Australia’s openers, skipper Michael Clarke and David Warner.
Clarke, promoted to open the innings with Shane Watson rested, made a quickfire 30 off 17 balls to revive his Twenty20 career with the knock.
Clarke had not reached 30 in his past seven innings since the Twenty20 World Cup.
However, the quick dismissals of Clarke, Warner (1) and Tim Paine (0) had the Australian team struggling at 3-33.
Australia’s middle-order appeared on track, with James Hopes (30), Dave Hussey (33) and Mike Hussey (25) trying to perform their customary rescue mission, but their efforts fell short by 11 runs, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar also chipped in with a wicket.
Earlier, choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Pakistan scored 9-162 in their 20 overs.
The Pakistani innings was bolstered by a 60-run second wicket stand between Salman Butt (31) and Kamran Akmal (33).
Skipper Shahid Afridi and Umar Akmal shared another key partnership of 30 runs.
An unbeaten 20 not out from Aamer, after Umar Akmal and Afridi were dismissed off successive balls was also valuable.
Debutant Australian spinner Steve O’Keefe was impressive taking three for 29 in his four overs.
O’Keefe has not played in the New South Wales Twenty20 side for nearly 18 months, but looked composed in his maiden international appearance.
With the series win, Pakistan will take some momentum into the two-match Test series starting at Lord’s next week.
Brief scorecard:
Pakistan– 162 for 9 (Kamran Akmal 33, O’Keefe 3-29, Nannes 3-30)
Australia– 151 (D Hussey 33, Aamer 3-27) (ANI)
