Hussey, Maxwell help Australia to a series win

Australia ended up successful against the trial by spin and the heat in the UAE as they won the 3rd ODI to clinch a 2-1 series win.

Michael Hussey was one of the stars for the team from Down Under, scoring a fine 65 while Glenn Maxwell came up with a crucial 56 to help Australia beat Pakistan by 3 wickets in the final ODI at Sharjah. Hussey scored his 39th fifty and Maxwell hit his maiden half-century in ODIs to round off a challenging chase of 245 in 47 overs, spoiling Pakistan's chances of beating Australia for the first time since 2002.

Hussey added an invaluable 51 for the fifth wicket with Matthew Wade (22) after Saeed Ajmal (3/37) had threatened to wreck their rival's batting as Australia were struggling at 108-4. But the 37-year-old Hussey, regarded as one of the best finishers in limited overs cricket, kept his cool during a 72-ball knock. Even when Wade was bowled by Abdur Rehman, Hussey fought hard, adding 67 with Maxwell. When Hussey was bowled by Khan, Australia still needed 19 but Maxwell ensured the chase was successful, hitting four fours and three sixes in a vital knock that saw his team through.

Australia got off to a rapid start with David Hussey, who came out to open, putting on 44 by the ninth over with David Warner (21). Both took the attack to the Pakistanis from the outset with David Hussey hitting three sixes during his 45-ball knock of 43.

But once Ajmal came on the Australian innings faltered as the off-spinner dismissed David Hussey, Michael Clarke (32) and George Bailey in his first five-over spell.But David's elder brother foiled Ajmal in his second spell to keep his team on track before Maxwell completed the formalities.

Earlier, Mohammad Hafeez came up with a fine half-century and was involved in a century partnership with Nasir Jamshed, which happened to be Pakistan's first century stand by their openers against Australia since 1985. The 31-year-old right-hander hit 78 off 97-balls for his 13th one-day fifty and added 129 runs with Jamshed (48) to give Pakistan a good platform.

At that stage, it seemed likely that Pakistan would post a total in excess of 300. However, a persistent Australian seam attack restricted the sub-continent team to 244/7. Mitchell Starc did most of the damage, finishing with figures of 4/51, while Mitchell Johnson contributed his bit with 2/33.

Jamshed, who hit 97 in the previous match, was again at his fluent best as he hit six boundaries during his 75-ball knock. Jamshed, along with Hafeez, laid a solid platform for Pakistan to capitalize upon before he became the first one to depart when he was out caught behind off Johnson.

Shahid Afridi was promoted up the order to accelerate the scoring but he did not do much as he was caught by Glenn Maxwell at deep mid-wicket for seven, giving Johnson his second wicket. Pakistan's momentum was further hindered when Hafeez fell, trapped leg-before by Michael Clarke in the 33rd over, which left Pakistan hard pressed for runs.

Starc, who took a career best 5-42 in the opening game, accounted for Asad Shafiq (27) and Umar Akmal (0) in the 39th over before bringing about the dismissals of Misbah-ul Haq (25) and Kamral Akmal (2) in the 47th over. Azhar Ali and Abdur Rehman managed a few boundaries towards the end which helped Pakistan post a competitive tota.