26 January,2010 01:40 PM IST | | A Correspondent
Opener Shaun Marsh (83) and vice-captain Michael Clarke (80) helped Australia reach 286 in the third one-day international against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval.
After electing to bat first, Marsh and on-song Shane Watson (33) gave Australia a sound start. Just when Watson looked like breaking the shackles in the second Powerplay, Mohammad Asif (1-51) got rid of him in the 13th over.
And in the next over, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (2-57) trapped skipper Ricky Ponting (0) in front of the wicket to leave Australia reeling at 64 for two.
In came Clarke and salvaged the situation with southpaw Marsh. Though Marsh missed out a deserving century as he was stumped by glovesman Kamran Akmal off offie Saeed Ajmal, Clarke anchored the Australian innings to the last over.
His three vital 50-plus partnerships u2013 85 runs with Marsh, 55 with Cameron White (28) and 80 with Michael Hussey whose 28-ball 49 enabled Australia cross the 270-barrier u2013 gave Australia the edge. Clarke and Hussey were severe on Umar Gul (2-80) in the batting Powerplay. Though Gul dismissed both of them in the last over, the damage had already been done.
Looking at Pakistan's batting collapse in the second ODI of the five-match series, it looks to be a stiff task for Mohammad Yousuf and Co.
If they fail in their endeavour, Australia will pocket the series with two matches still to be played.
