Hauritz guides Aussies to victory

Cricket : Nathan Hauritz claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Australia wrapped up a comprehensive …

Cricket: Nathan Hauritz claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket as Australia wrapped up a comprehensive 170-run victory over Pakistan in the first Test in Melbourne.

Hauritz, whose previous best was four for 86, spun Australia to victory shortly after lunch on the final day at the MCG after Mitchell Johnson had earlier set the tone with a devastating spell of pace bowling.

Hauritz finished with five for 101 to help bowl the tourists out for 251 in their second innings.

Pakistan went into lunch at 249 for eight, chasing a world-record 422 for an historic victory.

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But their slim hopes were dashed in the second over after lunch as Hauritz had captain Mohammad Yousuf caught by Simon Katich at short leg for 61, before Saeed Ajmal was caught at mid-wicket by Shane Watson for 10.

Watson was named man of the match for his 93 in the first innings and unbeaten 120 - his maiden Test century - in the second.

Johnson finished 2009 with 63 wickets after claiming three for 46, while Doug Bollinger had two for 42.

The victory also cemented Ricky Ponting as the most successful captain in Test history with 42 wins out of the 65 matches in which he has led Australia.

Earlier, Johnson and Hauritz each grabbed two wickets in a dominant morning session.

Johnson struck twice in two balls in the first over of the morning before Hauritz repeated the trick, both bowlers coming within inches of hat-tricks.

Johnson wasted little time in breaking through, taking just four deliveries before dismissing 19-year-old Umar Akmal, who was caught behind by keeper Brad Haddin for 27.

With the very next ball Johnson removed Misbah-ul-Haq for a duck, also caught behind.

Pakistan made slow progress from that point before Hauritz's double strike.

Kamran Akmal (30) was the spinner's first victim of the day when he was stumped after advancing down the pitch, before Mohammad Aamer was surprised by the bounce and gloved the next delivery to Simon Katich at short leg.

Abdur Rauf managed to survive the hat-trick ball, swinging wildly over the ring of close fielders.

He was out soon after though, bowled by Bollinger for five.

Watson had put Australia in command on day four after his maiden Test century, Ponting declaring at 225 for eight to set Pakistan a record fourth-innings target.