Read the article of Australia vs Pakistan 12th Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1989-90 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 12th ODI match played between Pakistan and Australia at Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney in 20th February 1990.
Captain Imran Khan holds nerve as Pakistan grabbed a sensational 2-run victory over Australia, despite a all-round efforts from Simon O'Donnell in a see-saw game of the 12th match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
Pakistan scored 220-8 in the allotted 49 overs with top scorer by Saleem Malik cracked a 67 off 85-balls including 4-fours.
Imran Khan hit 56 off 98-balls including 3-fours & a six, Saeed Anwar struck 43 off 36-balls included 6-fours & a six with strike rate of 119.44 and Mushtaq Ahmed 17 not out.
Australia best bowler by Simon O'Donnell, Terry Alderman, Greg Campbell each took 2-wickets and one for Carl Rackemann.
Australia scored 218-9 in 49 overs with top scorer by Tom Moody struck 74 off 109-balls including 5-fours.
Simon O'Donnell cracked a 39 off 36-balls including 2-fours & a six, Mark Taylor hit 29 off 25-balls included 4-fours and Allan Border scored 26 off 50-balls contained three-fours.
Pakistan best bowler by Imran Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed both took 2-wickets, Saeed Anwar, Tauseef Ahmed, Aaqib Javed and Waqar Younis each took one-wickets.
Simon O'Donnell named Player of the match for his all-round effort to contributed 39 off 36-balls after taking 2-wickets for 32-runs in 10-overs.
This match reported by The Canberra Times Staff (Third Party Reference from The Canberra Times)
Pakistan grabbed sensational two-run victory and a slight psychological advantage over Australia in the World Series Cup cricket match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Imran Khan's men will now go into the best-of-three finals series on Friday, Sunday and Tuesday with the knowledge they have beaten the Australians the last two times they have played them.
But, unlike last Tuesday's five-wicket victory at the SCG, last night's match was alive until the last ball, with Terry Alderman beaten by Imran in attempting to hit the three runs required for victory off the final ball and the first ball he faced. The see-sawing match was a great spec- tacle considering it had no bearing on the shape of the finals.
After Imran won the toss, Pakistan made 8-220 off 49 overs after appearing set for a score of around 260 midway through its innings.
In reply, Australia was 9-218 at the finish.
Australian captain Allan Border is expecting the finals to be just as thrilling as last night's match, and concedes Pakistan might have a slight psychological edge after its blistering end to the round-robin matches.
"They'll go into Friday's game boosted by tonight whereas if we had got those runs in the last over, they'd be a bit flat, Border said.
"Pakistan is really starting to hit their straps and they'll have Wasim Akram and Javed Miandad back for them in the finals.
"I think it's really going to go down to the wire. The thing we've got to work on is to stop their flying starts.
New South Wales paceman Geoff Lawson has been recalled to the Australian side for the finals series.
Lawson was named last night in the 13-man squad. The veteran NSW captain has been off the international scene since the second Test against Sri Lanka in Brisbane late last year. He has been recalled because Queensland fast bowler Craig McDermott has been struck down with the flu.
Blues' all-rounder Mark Waugh may still be forced to carry the drinks in Friday's first final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, just as he did in his comeback match last night.
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