BIG performances from Nathan Hauritz and Ryan Harris helped Australia emphatically claim their fourth consecutive one-day international victory by 135 runs over Pakistan at the WACA in Perth.

Hauritz was in blistering touch with the bat, scoring a career-high unbeaten 53 off 39 balls as Australia recovered from a sedate start to make 277 for eight off the 50 overs. Michael Hussey also contributed a solid 67 off 75 balls.

Man-of-the-match Harris, playing in just his third ODI, then claimed five for 19 to help bowl Pakistan out for 142.

The tourists’ run chase got off to a bad start when Harris produced a beautiful delivery to deceive Salman Butt, who was caught behind without scoring.

Younus Khan followed in Harris’ third over, the fifth of the innings, and although Kamran Akmal (17) and Mohammad Yousuf (10) briefly threatened to steady the Pakistan ship, Peter Siddle (two for 31) removed both batsmen.

With their backs to the wall, Umar Akmal (38) and Fawad Alam (21) produced a painstaking 60-run partnership that was more a battle for survival than any meaningful attempt to overhaul the total.

But when Alam was sensationally run-out by Hauritz in the 28th over, Pakistan’s chase received a much-needed shot in the arm from Shahid Afridi, who pummelled Australia’s attack for 29 runs off 10 deliveries, including one over from Hauritz that went for 17.

Afridi, though, could only look on from the other end as Harris was brought back into the attack to dismiss Akmal and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan in consecutive balls, with the explosive all-rounder following in the next over from Clint McKay.

With Afridi gone it was only a matter of time before Australia wrapped up the tail, Hauritz (one for 48) removing Saeed Ajmal before Harris finished off the tourists when he had Rao Iftikhar Anjum spectacularly caught by a diving Brad Haddin.

The result, however, somewhat flattered the Australians after Pakistan produced their best performance in the field of the tour, ensuring that most of the Australian top order merely made starts without going on. Mohammad Asif was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, finishing with figures of three for 42 from 10 overs. (Eurosport)
AUSTRALIA innings
S. Watson b (wkp.) Akmal b Asif 12
B. Haddin b Naved-ul-Hasan 32
R.. Ponting c Akmal b Afridi 30
M. Clarke run-out 10
C. White c Asif b Ajmal 44
M. Hussey c Yousuf b Ajmal 67
J. Hopes b Mohammad Asif 16
N. Hauritz not out 53
R. Harris c Afridi b Asif 4
C. McKay not out 0
Extras: (lb-2, w-6, nb-1) 9
Total: (8 wickets, 50 overs) 277
Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-55, 3-77, 4-110, 5-159, 6-190, 7-270, 8-275.
Bowling: Mohmamad Asif 10-1-42-3 (nb-1), , Naved-ul-Hasan 10-0-70-1 (w-1), Iftikhar Anjum 10-0-64-0 Shaid Afridi 10-1-44-1 (w-1), Saeed Ajmal 10-0-55-2 (w-1).

PAKISTAN innings
S. Butt c White b Harris 0
K. Akmal c (wkp.) Haddin b Siddle 17
Y. Khan c wkp. Haddin b Harris 6
M. Yousuf c Haddin b Siddle 10
U. Akmal c b Harris 38
F. Alam run-out (Hauritz) 21
S. Afridi c Hauritz b McKay 29
Naved-ul-Hasab c Haddin b Harris 0
I. Anjum c Haddin b Harris 5
S. Ajmal b Hauritz 7
M. Asif not out 0
Extras: (lb-5, w-3, nb-1) 9
Total: (all out, 37.5 overs) 142
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-14, 3-38, 4-39, 5-99, 6-125, 7-125, 8-131, 9-140.
Bowling: R. Harris 9.5-3-19-5, P. Siddle 6-0-31-2 (nb-1, w-1), C. McKay 7-2-16-1, J. Hopes 7-0-23-0, N. Hauritz 8-0-48-1,