Nathan Hauritz continued to consolidate his Test position on Monday by ensuring a series clean sweep and a record 12th straight win over Pakistan in the third Test at Bellerive Oval.
For the third straight Test, Hauritz bowled Australia to victory in the final innings as he took 3-30 off 17 overs to help dismiss the tourists for 206 on Monday.
The off-spinner’s efforts, including a wicket with his first ball of the final day, booked a 231-run victory and a 3-0 series result.
It’s the fourth consecutive three-Test series between the two countries which Australia have whitewashed.
The 12-straight wins equals Sri Lanka’s record of most consecutive Test victories against an opponent, in their case lowly Bangladesh.
Bustling paceman Peter Siddle returned to form in Hobart by taking 3-25 from 15.2 hostile overs, and delivered last rites by clean bowling tailender Danish Kaneria.
Hauritz finished with six wickets for the match and 18 for the series at a fine average of 23.
He ended the dogged resistance of Pakistan pair Khurram Manzoor (77) and Mohammad Aamer (30) who batted together for almost two hours, giving the tourists hope Tasmania’s changeable weather might come to their rescue.
Manzoor’s six-hour stay finished when he edged a cut shot off Hauritz for a sharp catch by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Slip Michael Clarke then grasped an even hotter chance in the NSW spinner’s next over when Umar Gul snicked a drive.
Never in the hunt for an improbable 438 for victory, Pakistan added 65 runs to their overnight score of 4-103 in the morning session but lost Shoaib Malik (19) and rookie wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed (5) on the way.
Ricky Ponting’s team could have easily had four wickets in the slow-moving session with Manzoor and Aamer both fortunate to survive run-out chances as mix-ups continued to plague the visitors.
Manzoor was 25 when Michael Clarke missed an underarm throw at the non-strikers end with the batsman metres away from his ground.
Aamer was given the benefit of the doubt by third umpire Billy Doctrove, after several replays, when a widish Mike Hussey throw saw Brad Haddin dislodge the bails as he just made the crease.
Siddle bowled wonderfully on the final day and started the ball rolling for Australia with the wicket of Malik, caught behind, off the 11th ball of the day.
Hauritz, who took three first-innings wickets, dismissed Sarfraz with his first ball of the day played for some turn and edged onto the glove of Brad Haddin, presenting Clarke with a lucky juggled catch off his boot.
In-form allrounder Shane Watson was named player of the series while Ponting gained the man-of-the-match award for his scores of 209 and 89 on his home ground.
Snapshot of day five of the third Test between Australia and Pakistan at Bellerive Oval.
SCORES – Australia 8(dec)-519 and 5(dec)-219, Pakistan 301 and 206.
MAN OF THE MOMENT – Nathan Hauritz. He struck with his first ball of the day, removing wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed.
KEY MOMENT – Hauritz removes danger man Khurrum Manzoor for 77, the last of the recognised batsmen, the second of three wickets for Hauritz on a final day when six wickets fell.
QUOTE OF THE DAY – “We gave 18 wickets to Hauritz, that is more disappointing,” a gentle sledge from Pakistan skipper Mohammad Yousuf about the Australian off-spinner after describing the disappointment of losing the series.
STAT OF THE DAY – Hauritz takes 18 wickets in the three-Test series for a miserly 23 runs per wicket.
SUMMARY – Australia claim their fourth consecutive three-Test series clean sweep against Pakistan while continuing to be their own worst enemy at times.
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