Pakistan blunders blasted as Australia take one-day series

By our correspondents

January 23, 2017

SYDNEY: Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur blasted his players after their blunders helped Australia secure their one-day series at Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, taking a 3-1 lead in the five match series.

Set an imposing 354 to win, Pakistan were never really in the hunt.

After Australia made 353 for six on the back of a David Warner century that was aided by appalling fielding from the tourists, Pakistan replied with 267 from 43.5 overs.

A frustrated Arthur was left lamenting another sloppy fielding effort marked by a number of dropped catches.

“We can’t compete with a side like Australia if we give their top five that many chances,” he said. “It’s unacceptable, those standards we set as a cricket team those standards haven’t been met. Is it skill level, attitude, or is it fatigue?”

Opener Sharjeel Khan, who dropped two catches in the Australian innings, whacked out 74 from just 47 balls, but once he fell to recalled leg-spinner Adam Zampa Pakistan’s fate was all but sealed.

Warner backed his form with the bat by doing what the Pakistanis couldn’t and hanging on to two excellent catches.

He was pleased to have the series wrapped up ahead of the final game in Adelaide on Thursday, saying the team “played fantastic”.

After Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss, the home side took advantage of a placid wicket and the hapless Pakistan fielding.

Warner top-scored with 130 but Pakistan did not help themselves, conceding a number of overthrows and dropped catches at crucial times.

He was dropped on 113 when Hasan Ali grassed a simple chance at mid-off from spinner Imad Wasim.

Smith scored 49 off 48 balls, but was let off at 10 when Sharjeel made a lazy one-handed attempt at gully from Junaid Khan’s bowling.

Sharjeel also dropped Travis Head when he was on 28, again to the chagrin of the luckless Junaid. Head went on to make 51.

And Hasan put down a difficult chance off Glenn Maxwell when he was on eight and the Australian ended on 78.

Despite his two dropped catches Hasan redeemed himself by taking five for 52, easily the best of the Pakistan bowlers.

Warner and Smith put on 120 for the second wicket to put Australia in a commanding position before Hasan removed both in the space of three balls to give the tourists a lift.

However, Head and Maxwell then cut loose to add 100 for the fourth wicket in 64 balls.

Pakistan recalled captain Azhar Ali after a hamstring injury at the expense of Asad Shafiq, while Australia recalled Mitchell Starc and spinner Zampa for James Faulkner and Billy Stanlake.

Zampa, controversially overlooked for the upcoming India tour, took his opportunity with 3-55 from his 10 overs.

Score Board

Australia won toss

Australia

U T Khawaja c Rizwan b Hasan 30

D A Warner c Rizwan b Hasan 130

*S P D Smith lbw b Hasan 49

T M Head c Shoaib b Amir 51

G J Maxwell c Sharjeel b Hasan 78

†M S Wade c Imad b Hasan 5

M A Starc not out 0

Extras (lb 8, nb 2) 10