Cricket:Half-centuries from Michael Hussey and Nathan Hauritz have seen Australia set Pakistan a competitive total of 278 to win the fourth one-day international clash at the WACA Ground on Friday.
On a sweltering afternoon in Perth, the match appeared in keeping with its dead-rubber status for much of the first 40 overs as Australia sedately cruised along to 190 for six.
But the dismissal of Cameron White in the 40th over brought an unlikely batting hero to the crease as Hauritz took advantage of the final powerplay to hammer the Pakistan attack, bringing up an unbeaten 53 off 39 balls.
Hauritz's efforts and a solid 67 from 75 deliveries from Hussey saw Australia add 87 runs in the last 10 overs, including 54 from the powerplay.
Hussey was eventually dismissed in the 49th over attempting a single off Saeed Ajmal (who finished with two for 55), the batsman getting a leading edge that was caught by Mohammad Yousuf at cover, just 11 runs shy of his highest ODI score at his home ground.
Mohammad Asif eventually claimed a deserved third wicket for 42 runs in the final over when he claimed Ryan Harris cheaply, but Hauritz stood tall, posting his highest ODI score.
For Pakistan, searching for their first win in the ODI series, the final 10 overs were a cruel blow after the tourists produced a disciplined performance in the field for much of the innings.
While Asif may have dropped Brad Haddin off his own bowling for one in the third over, Pakistan recovered from this and enjoyed one of their better afternoons for catches during the tour so far.
Kamran Akmal produced an impressive diving grab to dismiss Australian opener Shaun Marsh for 12 in the seventh over before Haddin made Pakistan pay for the missed opportunity, the New South Welshman hammering 32 from 26 deliveries.
Haddin, though, fell victim to a Rana Naved-ul-Hasan yorker that burst through the gate to rattle his stumps, while Michael Clarke came and went for 10 when he was caught well short of his ground by a sensational throw by Fawad Alam, attempting a quick single.
Ricky Ponting and Cameron White (44) appeared to have settled the ship and the Victorian looked set to let rip in the 21st over as he slogged Rao Iftikhar Anjum for 12 runs, including a big six down the ground.
But when Ponting (30) fell to a Shahid Afridi leg-spinner that turned off the deck and caught the outside edge, comically caught by Kamran Akmal between his legs, then it left White and Hussey to rebuild.
Rebuild they did, frustrating Pakistan with some slow scoring as they added just 37 runs in the next 10 overs.
But the pair laid the platform for the fireworks to come and Hauritz was only too happy to supply them.