Akmal aids consolation win

Kamran Akmal's hundred guided Pakistan past Australia's total of 250 in the final one-day international in Abu Dhabi today

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Kamran Akmal struck a forceful century as Pakistan salvaged some pride with a seven-wicket win over Australia in the final one-day international in Abu Dhabi.

Australia took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series on Friday but Pakistan responded well today to make the final outcome a respectable one.

Akmal, promoted up the order, scored an unbeaten 116 and Misbah-ul-Haq heralded a return to form with a precise 76 not out, the two helping Pakistan overhaul Australia’s total of 250 for four with 19 deliveries to spare.

That total was thanks in the main to an unbeaten knock of 116 from opener Shane Watson and his unbroken stand worth 84 for the fifth wicket with Callum Ferguson, who contributed 41 almost at a run a ball.

Pakistan had found themselves in familiar disarray when they lost opener Salman Butt - run out even without facing a delivery - in the first over and they lost a couple of quick wickets as skipper Younus Khan (27) and Ahmed Shehzad (19) both fell to the off-spin of Nathan Hauritz.

Hauritz’s strikes left Pakistan reeling at 56 for three, but Akmal and Misbah joined forces to help them overcome the sluggish start.

The two hammered boundaries at will early on, before settling down to a more cautious innings.

Akmal, almost run out when on 97, went on to score his fifth one-day century in 99 matches, bringing up the mark with a sweep to fine leg off captain Michael Clarke.

Pakistan enforced the batting powerplay at the start of the 46th over and Misbah finished off the game at a fair pace by striking Ben Hilfenhaus for three boundaries in his eighth over, their fourth-wicket partnership remaining unbroken on 198.

Earlier, Watson, who opened the innings alongside Brad Haddin (36), scored only his second ODI century in 77 matches and held Australia’s innings together with small but useful partnerships.

Australia stand-in captain Michael Clarke advances towards 26. He will fly home before Thursday's Twenty20 international

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Watson, Haddin’s third opening partner in the series after Shaun Marsh and James Hopes, started cautiously against a strong spell from fast bowler Umar Gul, who returned to the side after being rested for the previous game.

Gul shared the new ball with Shoaib Akhtar and in his first spell beat the outside edge on a couple of occasions, while he was a touch unfortunate when a nick off Watson fell short of Misbah at first slip with the batsman on three.

Watson again survived another close call when a heave landed just wide of Butt and Yasir Arafat at midwicket and then ruined the bowler's immaculate figures by clubbing him for a four and a six off successive deliveries in his third over.

Haddin looked in ominous form and had lifted much of the pressure with boundaries in each of Shoaib's first three overs. He then cracked first-change bowler Arafat for successive blows in the paceman's first over which yielded 13 runs.

Haddin was dismissed before he could become really destructive when an uppish drive off Shoaib was smartly snapped up by Younus at short mid-off. His knock came off just 31 deliveries and produced 58 runs for the first wicket with Watson.

Marcus North recorded another failure, while Clarke (26) and Andrew Symonds (15) both got starts but fell before they could capitalise.

Ferguson, however, dug in and saw out the innings with Watson, the duo adding 84 for the fifth wicket.

Earlier, the Austrlia selectors announced Clarke will be rested for the one-off Twenty20 international in Dubai on Thursday.

The 28-year-old Clarke will now fly home to prepare for the World Twenty20 and the Ashes which follows, selection panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said.

Haddin, who led Australia in a Twenty20 game against New Zealand in February, will captain the side for the final match of the tour.