Harris leads Australia to series win

Playing only his second one-day international match,Ryan Harris,a last-minute inclusion in the squad after injured pacer Peter Siddle was ruled out,picked up five wickets for 43 to help Australia beat Pakistan by 40 runs on Tuesday and take a 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Besides Harriss five-for,Clinton McKay also took three wickets as Pakistans innings folded up for 246 in reply to Australias 286 for six.

Pakistan started badly in their chase,with Kamran Akmal adjudged leg before for one run in Harriss opening over. McKay and Watson also picked up wickets to leave the visitors reeling at 60 for four. Just when another Pakistan collapse looked on the cards,Umar Akmal steadied the ship,adding 85 runs for the fifth wicket with Fawad Alam. Umar was removed by Harris caught behind after he had made 59. Alam followed soon,bowled through the gates by McKay for 33. Shahid Afridi 40 and Naved 33 added a brisk 58 in seven overs to keep the team in the game before Harris removed both of them to leave Pakistan on the brink of another defeat.

Earlier,openers Shaun Marsh 83 and Shane Watson 33 gave Australia a good start,adding 63 runs for the first wicket. Michael Clarke 80 also scored a half-century while Michael Hussey chipped in with a quick fire 49 off just 28 balls.

Brief scores: Australia 286/6 in 50 overs S Marsh 83,M Clarke 80,M Hussey 49; Naved-ul-Hasan 2/57 vs Pakistan 246 all out in 47.4 overs U Akmal 59,S Afridi 40; R Harris 5/43