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Australia vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI at Abu Dhabi, , Aug 31 2012 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
2nd ODI (N), Abu Dhabi, August 31, 2012, Australia tour of United Arab Emirates
(43.4/50 ov, T:249) 249/3

Pakistan won by 7 wickets (with 38 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
97 (98)
nasir-jamshed
New
PAK
Full commentary

Presentation: The endless stream of awards continue...

Nasir Jamshed is the Man of the Match: "I was cramping towards the end. The captain told me to play my natural game."

Clarke: "I should have bowled first. Good third game coming up. Difficult to hold onto the ball but no excuses. Our middle order played well but we didn't execute with the ball."

Misbah: "Much needed win. Jamshed showed maturity and class. Bowlers did a wonderful job to restrict them. In this outfield it is difficult to restrict any team under 250, lucky toss to lose."

That's it from us here. It's been a really really long night. Goes without saying really. Catch the decider in Sharjah on Monday. Thanks for your mails. Cheers!

End of match: Pakistan enhance their good chasing record at Abu Dhabi. It was Clarke who won the toss and opted to bat, but it backfired because the dew was uncontrollable for the bowlers late at night.

Having said that, a deserved victory for Pakistan. A crucial DRS reversal proved the turning point as Jamshed wisely challenged the LBW early in the innings and went on to score an entertaining 97. He should never have been given out in the first place. Azhar Ali played with a relaxed frame of mind and Pakistan never looked in danger of folding up. Stay with us for the presentation.

43.4
4
Maxwell to Misbah, FOUR runs

Pakistan keep the series alive! Tossed up outside off and he reaches out and drives him wide of the diving point fielder

43.3
2
Maxwell to Misbah, 2 runs

tossed up on the off stump and he drills it across the line and past midwicket, Mike Hussey charges from square leg and cuts it off

43.2
4
Maxwell to Misbah, FOUR runs

that's a neat slog, tossed up on the off stump and he gets on his knee and whams it high over midwicket, one bounce and four

43.1
1
Maxwell to Azhar Ali, 1 run

drifts on the pads and he clips it to deep square leg

end of over 432 runs
PAK: 238/3CRR: 5.53 RRR: 1.57
Misbah-ul-Haq25 (31b 3x4)
Azhar Ali58 (85b 4x4)
Dan Christian 8-0-40-1
Mitchell Johnson 9-0-51-1

Morfi has an alternative view: "The lesson here is not just that they should not play cricket in humid conditions, but that teams should fulfil their cricketing commitments when and where they are due, so that such tournaments dont need to be squeezed in. It is a greater lesson for Australia to learn and rightly so."

42.6
Christian to Misbah, no run

keeps it outside off and Misbah opts to leave it alone

42.5
1
Christian to Azhar Ali, 1 run

reaches out to drive and gets an outside edge down to third man

42.4
Christian to Azhar Ali, no run

gets a bit of inswing and he pushes it down to mid-on

42.3
Christian to Azhar Ali, no run

Azhar was down the track but the bowler shortened his length and got the ball to move away and beat the batsman

42.2
1
Christian to Misbah, 1 run

steers it with soft hands wide of point and takes a quick single

42.1
Christian to Misbah, no run

that was so wide outside off he could have left it alone, he ended up chopping it to mid-on

end of over 426 runs
PAK: 236/3CRR: 5.61 RRR: 1.62
Azhar Ali57 (82b 4x4)
Misbah-ul-Haq24 (28b 3x4)
Mitchell Johnson 9-0-51-1
Michael Clarke 3.1-0-12-0
41.6
Johnson to Azhar Ali, no run

turned towards square leg and he turns down the single

41.5
1
Johnson to Misbah, 1 run

drifts on the body and he clips it down to deep square leg

41.4
4
Johnson to Misbah, FOUR runs

bangs it in short from round the wicket and Misbah stands tall at the crease and pulls over midwicket, Misbah did well to ride the bounce

41.3
Johnson to Misbah, no run

short of a length and he stays back and chops it to the off side

41.2
Johnson to Misbah, no run

good rising delivery and Misbah does well to stand tall and fend it off

41.1
1
Johnson to Azhar Ali, 1 run

drifts on the pads and he swivels at the crease and tucks it to fine leg

end of over 415 runs
PAK: 230/3CRR: 5.60 RRR: 2.11
Misbah-ul-Haq19 (24b 2x4)
Azhar Ali56 (80b 4x4)
Michael Clarke 3.1-0-12-0
Mitchell Johnson 8-0-45-1

Where's Afridi when you need him??

40.6
Clarke to Misbah, no run

tossed up on the off stump and driven back to the bowler

40.5
1
Clarke to Azhar Ali, 1 run

goes back at the crease and slaps him down to deep point

40.4
Clarke to Azhar Ali, no run

chips down the track and drives him down to cover

40.3
1
Clarke to Misbah, 1 run

tossed up outside off and he reaches out and drives to deep point

40.2
2
Clarke to Misbah, 2 runs

drifts on the pads and he whips it away down to fine leg

40.1
1
Clarke to Azhar Ali, 1 run

stays beside the line and steers it towards deep point