Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd ODI at Dubai, , Apr 24 2009 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
2nd ODI (D/N), Dubai (DICS), April 24, 2009, Australia v Pakistan ODI Series
(45.1/50 ov, T:208) 208/4

Australia won by 6 wickets (with 29 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
58 (62) & 2/12
andrew-symonds
New
AUS
Full commentary

Australia paced their innings perfectly, first with the stand between Hopes and Watson, and then between Symonds and Clarke. Two quick wickets, one to Ajmal and the other to Afridi, put the two teams on even terms at one stage but a fluent Symonds, supported by a shaky, yet determined Clarke saw Australia through. The spinners, particularly Ajmal, were dealt with much better, though their variations were not up for display as often as they were in the first match. Clarke and Symonds used their feet to spin, something that was absent in the first game, and in the end, got home fairly easily. We'll get back to you with the details from the presentation shortly .

Some cash-prizes being given away. Unimportant ones, for hitting the board, for the number of fours struck etc. Andrew Symonds, unsurprisingly, is the Man of the Match.

Symonds: "It's a difficult wicket, a bit two-paced. We had a couple of partnerships that held us together. I had a bit of time to practice my batting, so it all went well today."

Younis Khan: "They had some good partnerships, while we had very few of those. If we had around 230-240, it could have been close. Today there was quite a bit of dew as well, which didn't help much."

Michael Clarke: "Better feeling today. We did well to restrict them, the bowlers did a fantastic job. We started well with James Hopes and Shane Watson chipping in well."

Keeping it short, these guys. That's all we have from here. Thanks for sending us all your feedback. Don't forget to tune in for the next game in Abu Dhabi on April 27. Until then, it's goodbye from all of us at Cricinfo.

45.1
1
Malik to Ferguson, 1 run

pushed down the ground wide of mid-on for a single, and the series is level 1-1

Scores level now, a convincing win this. Malik comes on

end of over 455 runs
AUS: 207/4CRR: 4.60 RRR: 0.20
Michael Clarke39 (72b 3x4)
Callum Ferguson9 (10b 1x4)
Iftikhar Anjum 9-0-32-0
Shahid Afridi 10-0-38-2
44.6
4
Iftikhar to Clarke, FOUR runs

just a fraction overpitched and he cashes in, plants his foot forward and punches it firmly down the ground to beat mid-off to the boundary

44.5
Iftikhar to Clarke, no run

held it back, short of a good length on the off, dabbed to cover

44.4
Iftikhar to Clarke, no run

on middle and off, gets forward and defends it solidly back to the bowler

44.3
Iftikhar to Clarke, no run

pushed off the front foot straight to mid-off

44.2
1
Iftikhar to Ferguson, 1 run
44.1
Iftikhar to Ferguson, no run
end of over 445 runs
AUS: 202/4CRR: 4.59 RRR: 1.00
Michael Clarke35 (68b 2x4)
Callum Ferguson8 (8b 1x4)
Shahid Afridi 10-0-38-2
Iftikhar Anjum 8-0-27-0
43.6
Afridi to Clarke, no run

down the track and defended it back on the pitch

43.5
Afridi to Clarke, no run

back of the hand again, spun back in, got outside the line to cover the spin

43.4
2
Afridi to Clarke, 2 runs

tossed up outside off, the googly, charges down and chips it well over mid-off for a couple, just one hit away now

43.3
Afridi to Clarke, no run

short of a length, chopped down to point

43.2
1
Afridi to Ferguson, 1 run

yorkerish on middle, dug out wide of the bowler and mid-on for a single

43.1
2
Afridi to Ferguson, 2 runs

tossed up on leg stump, tickled behind square for a single

end of over 436 runs
AUS: 197/4CRR: 4.58 RRR: 1.57
Callum Ferguson5 (6b 1x4)
Michael Clarke33 (64b 2x4)
Iftikhar Anjum 8-0-27-0
Shahid Afridi 9-0-33-2
42.6
1
Iftikhar to Ferguson, 1 run

short of a length on the off, guided down to third man for a single

42.5
Iftikhar to Ferguson, no run

cut back in sharply, Ferguson had already shuffled well outside off but covered the line well, getting his body behind it and playing it back to the bowler

A mammoth 12 needed off 44 here

42.4
1
Iftikhar to Clarke, 1 run

short on middle and leg, gets back and drops it wide of midwicket

42.3
Iftikhar to Clarke, no run

wristily works it away but straight to mid-on

42.2
Iftikhar to Clarke, no run

full on the off, dug out back to the bowler

42.1
4
Iftikhar to Clarke, FOUR runs

Clarke follows it up with an even better shot, good length on the off, drawing him forward, gets to the pitch and pulls off a textbook cover-drive

Ifty back into the attack

end of over 425 runs
AUS: 191/4CRR: 4.54 RRR: 2.12
Callum Ferguson4 (4b 1x4)
Michael Clarke28 (60b 1x4)
Shahid Afridi 9-0-33-2
Umar Gul 10-0-51-1
41.6
4
Afridi to Ferguson, FOUR runs

shot! Nice, meaty, juicy length ball outside off, tossed up and invited him into the drive, Ferguson duly obliged, getting a big stride forward and drilling it through extra cover