Cricket: Australia romp to nine-wicket victory

Australia completed a 3-0 sweep of Pakistan with a nine-wicket victory late on day four of the third test at the Sydney Cricket Ground today.

Matthew Hayden (23no) and captain Ricky Ponting (4no) reached the victory target of 62 with ease to inflict a third comprehensive defeat on the injury-plagued tourists.

Ponting brought up the winning runs by hitting a straight drive for four off legspinner Danish Kaneria.

It was Australia's fifth successive test win of the summer and fifth consecutive series win over Pakistan.

Australia's next test outing will be in the three-match series in New Zealand next month following the one-day tri-series involving Pakistan and the West Indies starting Friday week.

Opener Justin Langer (34) was the only casualty in today's run chase, being bowled around his legs by Kaneria (1-16).

Paceman Jason Gillespie earlier dismissed topscorer Asim Kamal (87) to end the Pakistan second innings on 325 after a pesky last wicket stand of 55 between Asim and Mohammad Asif (12no).

Spin duo Shane Warne (4-111) and Stuart MacGill (3-83) had combined to all but finish off the Pakistanis but couldn't split the final pair.

Pakistan earlier resumed at 1-67, needing 197 to make Australia bat again, before spin ace Warne removed opener Yasir Hameed (63) with a questionable LBW decision to have the tourists wobbling at 2-104.

However captain Yousuf Youhana (30) and Younis Khan (44) dug their heels in before MacGill ended the resistance with his leg break spitting out of the rough and clipping Youhana's leg stump.

Allrounder Shane Watson (1-32) then took his first test scalp by removing Younis with the very next ball.

The Queenslander was mobbed after he trapped Younis with his team-mates celebrating by ruffling up Watson's well-groomed blond locks.

However Shahid Afridi (46) and Asim then started eating away at the large deficit before Afridi continued his self-destructive ways by being run out going for a quick single.

Damien Martyn produced a sharp piece of fielding after coming in at short fine leg to produce a direct hit to catch the talented allrounder short of his crease.

It triggered a collapse as wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal (4) flicked a Warne ball soon after into close-in fielder Matthew Hayden and the big Queenslander managed to cling onto the catch.

The Victorian then removed Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (9) and Shoaib Akhtar (0) before fellow spin bowler MacGill got back in on the act by clean bowling Danish Kaneria (0).

The last pair teased the powerful Australian outfit and Asif enjoyed some good fortune on six with the total at 9-312 when a MacGill delivery dribbled onto the stumps but failed to dislodge the bails.

The fiery NSW legspinner very publicly vented his fury out on the field before ending up with match figures of 8-170 while Danish finished up with 8-204.

Michael Clarke did not field today as he rested a sore right foot.


Pakistan first innings 304


Australia first innings 568


Pakistan second innings (overnight 67-1)


Salman Butt c Warne b MacGill 21


Yasir Hameed lbw b Warne 63


Younis Khan lbw b Watson 44


Yousuf Youhana b MacGill 30


Asim Kamal c Ponting b Gillespie 87


Shahid Afridi run out 46


Kamran Akmal c Hayden b Warne 4


Naved-ul-Hasan lbw b Warne 9


Shoaib Akhtar c Martyn b Warne 0


Danish Kaneria b MacGill 0


Mohammad Asif not out 12


Extras (4b, 3lb, 2nb) 9


Total (all out, 89.2 overs) 325


Fall of wickets: 1-21 2-104 3-164 4-164 5-238 6-243 7-261


8-269 9-270 10-325


Bowling: McGrath 16-2-53-0, Gillespie 13.2-2-39-1 (1nb),


Warne 26-2-111-4, MacGill 25-3-83-3, Watson 9-2-32-1 (1nb)


Australia second innings


J Langer b Kaneria 34


M.Hayden not out 23


R Ponting not out 4


Extras (1nb) 1


Total (for 1 wkt, 9.3 overs) 62


Bowling: Naved-ul-Hasan 3-0-28-0, Mohammad Asif 2-0-16-0,


Danish Kaneria 2.3-0-16-1, Shahid Afridi 2-0-2-0


Result: Australia won by nine wickets


Man of the match: Stuart MacGill (Australia)

- AAP