Veteran Mike Hussey and youngster Glenn Maxwell scored half-centuries to guide Australia to a brilliant series win with victory in the third and deciding one-day international against Pakistan.
Set a target of 245 to win, Australia were struggling at 5-159 before Mike Hussey (65) and 23-year-old fourth-gamer Maxwell shared a 67-run partnership to put Australia back in the contest.
Maxwell’s unbeaten 56 came off 38 deliveries and included four fours and three sixes.
After reaching his maiden half-century, the Victorian fittingly hit a six for the winning runs for a total of 7-250 at the end of the 47th over as Australia claimed a 2-1 series victory with three overs and three wickets to spare.
Pakistan’s star spinner Saeed Ajmal, whose first spell yielded 3-11 off five overs, finished with 3-37 off nine while fellow spinner Abdur Rehman took 2-41 off nine.
Earlier, pacemen Mitchell Starc (4-51) and Mitchell Johnson (2-33) helped restrict Pakistan to 7-244.
Australia’s Michael Clarke won the toss and wanted his bowlers to get first use of the conditions to avoid having to confront the slippery late-night dew which contributed to their defeat in game two in Abu Dhabi.
Mohammad Hafeez (78) and Nasir Jamshed (48) shared a partnership of 129, which was 12 runs shy of the highest opening stand by Pakistan against Australia.
The 22-year-old Starc claimed the key wickets of Asad Shafiq (27), Misbah-ul-Haq (25), Ubmar Akmal (duck) and Kamran Akmal (two).
Australia pushed opening batsman Matthew Wade down the order to give him a rest after wicketkeeping for 50 overs in on-field temperatures in the mid-40s.
David Warner (21) added a brisk 44 with new opening partner David Hussey, who had spoken pre-game of Australia’s plan to play attacking cricket against Ajmal.
Warner fell to Rehman and Pakistan’s hopes soared after Ajmal claimed the prize wicket of Clarke (32) stumped.
Ajmal also removed David Hussey (43 off 45 balls) caught at long-on. George Bailey (one) tried a sweep shot and was caught behind off Ajmal at 4-108.
Australia took the batting power play in the 36th over but Pakistan took control of the game when No.6 Wade (22) was bowled by Reman three balls later.
The 37-year-old Mike Hussey’s innings of 62 came when he missed a slog-sweep and was bowled by paceman Junaid Khan.
Bailey’s Australia Twenty20 side take on Mohammad Hafeez’s Pakistan in a three-match series starting on Wednesday night in Dubai (0200 Thursday AEST).
