Gul, Afridi restrict Aussies to 198

ABU DHABI: Michael Clarke hit a fighting half-century but Australia still managed just 198-7 in their allotted 50 overs in the third day-night international against Pakistan here on Monday.

The 28-year-old right-handed batsman scored 66, adding 54 with Callum Ferguson (41) for the fifth wicket as Australia were made to struggle for runs after they won the toss and decided to bat on a flat Abu Dhabi Stadium pitch.

Clarke, who hit eight boundaries during his 93-ball knock, also added 46 for the third wicket with opener Brad Haddin (26) after Australia lost two early wickets with James Hopes (15) and Shane Watson (nought).

Australia lost Hopes in the sixth over when he failed to beat a direct throw from Pakistan captain Younus Khan and was run out. Watson was bowled by Gul off an inside edge.Clarke and Haddin steadied the innings before Shoaib Malik removed Haddin, while leg-spinner Shahid Afridi had the dangerous Andrew Symonds for seven.

Clarke fell in the 39th over to end Australia"s hopes of a big total as David Hussey (ten) and Ferguson also went in quick succession, trying for quick runs.Ferguson hit four boundaries during his 68-ball knock.

Pakistani bowlers kept a tight line and length with paceman Umar Gul returning the best figures with 3-38, while Shahid Afridi took 2-31. Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, reported for suspect bowling action on Sunday, failed to get a wicket.

Pakistan left out pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Rao Iftikhar and brought in all-rounders Yasir Arafat and Sohail Tanvir from the line-up that lost the second match by six wickets on Friday.Australia, who lost the first match by four wickets, replaced Ben Laughlin and Doug Bollinger with Stuart Clark and Ben Hilfenhaus.

Australia won toss

Australia

J R Hopes run out 15

�B J Haddin b Malik 26

S R Watson b Gul 0

*M J Clarke c and b Afridi 66

A Symonds lbw b Afridi 7

C J Ferguson c Tanvir b Gul 41

D J Hussey c Arafat b Gul 10

N M Hauritz not out 19

N W Bracken not out 2

Extras (b3, lb3, nb2, w4) 12

Total (7 wickets, 50 overs) 198

Did not bat: S R Clark, B W Hilfenhaus

Fall: 1-28, 2-28, 3-74, 4-91, 5-145, 6-168, 7-188

Bowling: Gul 8-0-38-3, Tanvir 6-1-28-0, Arafat 7-1-31-0, Afridi 10-2-31-2, Malik 10-2-22-1, Ajmal 9-0-42-0

Pakistan: Salman Butt, Ahmed Shahzad, *Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Shahid Afridi, �Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Yasir Arafat, Saeed Ajmal

Umpires: B F Bowden (New Zealand), Asad Rauf (Pakistan). TV umpire: Nadeem Ghouri (Pakistan). Match referee: J J Crowe (New Zealand)

caption

ABU DHABI: Australia"s Shane Watson (centre) is clean bowled by Pakistan"s Umar Gul (unseen) during their third one-dayer here on Monday