Pakistan put up much more of a fight in the third ODI in Adelaide, but they could still not stop Australia from recording a 40-run victory that gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series.
Harris produces superb figures to fire Aussies to series win
Replacement bowler Ryan Harris, who only played due to an injury to Peter Siddle, responded with a Man of the Match performance by taking 5-43 to help bowl the Aussies to victory.
Shaun Marsh top scored with 83 as Australia previously made 246, but Harris and Clint McKay (3-48) showcased the home side’s strength in depth in the bowling ranks by ending Pakistan’s resistance on 246 with two overs to spare.
After being blown away by 140 runs in the last game, it represents a big improvement by the tourists, but their bowlers were again unable to restrict the Australian batsmen.
Marsh led the line with a steady 83 off 113, while Shane Watson hit 33 as they produced an opening stand of 63 to form the platform for the innings.
Ricky Ponting went for a duck but Michael Clarke picked up the pace as he smacked 80 off 90 balls and adding 83 for the third wicket with Marsh before being bowled by Umar Gul.
Clarke and Mike Hussey then exploded in the final ten overs, with the duo combining for an 80-run partnership off just 33 balls as Hussey 49 came off just 28 deliveries.
Pakistan slipped to 60-4 in response with Harris trapping Kamran Akmal lbw for just one, while Salman Butt was unlucky to be given out by the same method despite TV replays suggesting otherwise - ending his bright start at 34.
Pakistan showed some fight this time around though with Umar Akmal and Fawad Alam adding 85 between them before Akmal was caught behind for 59 after trying to guide a Harris delivery down to third man.
Alam went for 33 and that brought Rana Naved in to join Shahid Afridi and the two gunslingers duly started swinging for the fences to try and blast Pakistan back into contention.
The two smacked 37 runs off three overs to have the Aussies sweating, but they both fell to Harris when trying to hand out more punishment to the bowlers.
Afridi registered 40 from just 29 balls while Rana added 33 from 28 but their brave efforts were not to be enough as Australia won to claim the series in some style.
Sky Sports
