Pakistan all-rounder Abdul Razzaq belted 89 runs from 61 balls to lift his team to a morale-boosting 13-run win over Australia A in their limited-overs match at the Adelaide Oval here on Wednesday. Razzaq smacked half a dozen sixes - including three off just six balls from offspinner Nathan Hauritz - to steer his team to victory. Pakistan reached 279 for eight before dismissing the Australians for 266 in the 49th over.
It was their first win over an Australian team on their current tour since beating a makeshift invitational side in a carnival match at Lilac Hill in Western Australia five weeks ago.
Razzaq's splendid knock was backed by some impressive bowling from paceman Rana Naveedul Hasan who took three of the last five wickets as Pakistan claimed six for 12 in the last four overs, including two run outs.
Australia 'A' had seemed set to cruise to victory after wicket-keeper and captain Brad Haddin gave them a brilliant chance with a flawless 129 from 123 balls.
In the 44th over the home side were coasting at 254 for four when Razzaq struck, trapping Dominic Thornely lbw for 16. Naved then completed the rout, finishing with three for 42, while Razzaq took two for 45 from 10 overs. Razzaq said the win would be a huge morale boost for Pakistan in the lead-up to the tri-series international one-day matches against Australia and the West Indies which start in Melbourne on Friday.
Pakistan's first match is against Australia in Hobart on Sunday.
"The main thing is we won the match," Razzaq said.
"We needed that because we lost the Test series, everybody was down, so I hope we will do better in the one-dayers."
Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq paid tribute to Razzaq, saying he was recovering from a mystery illness which had afflicted him throughout the team's tour of Australia.
"Razzaq played very well," he said.
"When he gets going it is very difficult to stop him."
Inzamam said the win was important after Pakistan's poor form on tour and should be a big help leading into the one-dayers.
Haddin said Pakistan had shown they had some talented one-day players but predicted the tourists would still struggle against Australia.
SCOREBOARD:
PAKISTAN:
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Salman Butt b Wright 15
Y. Hameed c M Hussey b Wright 30
Kamran Akmal b Lewis 11
M. Hafeez c D Hussey b Hauritz 61
Inzamamul Haq c Hodge b Tait 10
Yousuf Youhana c Haddin b Tait 5
Abdul Razzaq not out 89
Shahid Afridi c Hauritz b Hopes 22
Azhar Mahmood run out 12
Rana Navedul Hasan not out 0
EXTRAS: (B-4, B-8, W-11, NB-1) 24
TOTAL: ( for 8 wickets, 50 overs) 279
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Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-48, 3-75, 4-111, 5-117, 6-185, 7-253, 8-271. Bowling: M Lewis 10-2-40-1 (1w), S Tait 10-0-49-2 (9w), D Wright 10-0-54-2 (1nb), J Hopes 10-1-46-1 (1w), N Hauritz 8-0-55-1, D Thornely 2-0-23-0.
Did not bat: Rao Iftikhar.
AUSTRALIA "A'
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J.Hopes c Kamran b Rao 13
B.Haddin run out 129
B.Hodge b Azhar 30
D.Hussey c sub (Younis) b Rao 45
M.Hussey b Razzaq 5
D.Thornely lbw b Razzaq 16
C.White run out 0
D.Wright b Rana 4
N.Hauritz b Rana 2
M.Lewis not out 1
S.Tait c Kamran b Rana 0
Extras: (lb-7, w-5, NB-9) 21
TOTAL: (all out in 48.4 overs) 266
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FALL OF WICKETS: 1-31, 2-96, 3-205, 4-210, 5-254, 6-254, 7-260, 8-264, 9-266.
BOWLING: Rana Naveedul Hasan 9.4-0-42-3 (2nb 2w), Rao Iftikhar 10-0-52-2 (1w), Azhar Mahmood 6-0-34-1 (1nb, 1w), Shahid Afridi 9-0-55-0 (1nb), Muhammad Hafeez 10-0-45-2 (5nb 1w), Abdul Razzaq 4-0-31-0.
Pakistan won by 13 runs.
TOSS: Australia 'A'
UMPIRES: Ian Lock (AUS), Bruce Oxenford (AUS).
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