Australia has levelled their One Day Series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, with Andrew Symonds finally hitting some form to lead Australia’s charge to a six wicket victory.

The Australians had made a couple of changes from the side that was completly out played in the first match between the two countries, with Shaun Marsh returning to Australia due to injury, and Doug Bollinger and Queensland younster Ben Laughlin both earning call ups into the squad – the Australians were looking for a change of fortune.

Pakistan captain Younis Khan won the toss and elected to bat first, however his decision was thrown into question when opener Ahmed Shehzad was run out by Australian skipper Michael Clarke for 4 in the third over with the Pakistan team 1 for 5 early in the match.

The Pakistani skipper combined with opening batsmen Salman Butt (57) for a 53 run partnership to stabalise the Pakistan batting innings, before Khan edged a Ben Laughlin delivery for a catch to wicket keeper Brad Haddin.

Nathan Hauritz seem to put Australia in a comanding position when he picked up two quick scalps of Shoaib Malik (7), and Misbah-ul-Haq (12) to have Pakistan at 4 for 103 in the 28th Over, when Hauritz picked up his third wicket, the prized scalp of Salman Butt, and All Rounder James Hopes adding two scalps to his international career the Pakistan innings looked a shaky 7 for 176.

However it was left to the tailenders to add respectability to the score and when Umar Gul and returning speedstar Shoaib Akhtar added a valuable 30 – including 25 from 14 balls from Akhtar the Pakistani team had put together 207 by the time they were bowled out – losing the final three wickets for just one run.

Although the Australians had prevented Pakistan from scoring a highly defendable One Day International score, their fielding was left definately lacking, with numerous drop catches and missed run outs making the once powerhouse side looking mediocre at best.

James Hopes joined Brad Haddin to open the batting for the Australians, the pair putting on just 16 before Haddin was bowled by Umar Gul for 8, before Shane Watson – still recovering from stress fractures – combined with Hopes for a brilliant 77 run partnership before departing for 30.

All eyes though were on Australian All Rounder Andrew Symonds, who after picking up 2 for 12 from his two overs, finally returned to some sort of batting form blasting 58 from 62 to secure the six wicket victory for the troubled Australian team.

This article was written by Brendon Meynell from Sports-Force.net.au

http://www.sports-force.net.au/cricket/2009/04/25/aussies-level-series/