Fourth One Day International
Abu Dhabi
Pakistan 197 (D E Bollinger 5-35) v Australia 200-2 (M J Clarke 100 no, S R Watson 85 no)
Australia beat Pakistan by 8 wkts
Michael Clarke's unbeaten century took Australia to a series-winning eight-wicket victory over Pakistan on Friday.
The skipper scored a fluent 100 off 122 deliveries while Shane Watson supported him with 85 not out as the Aussies finished at 200 for two in 44.2 overs chasing a target of 198.
Doug Bollinger had wrecked Pakistan's line-up with an accurate spell which earned him five wickets for 35 runs in only his second one-dayer, but Shoaib Akhtar threatened to better that effort when he sent back both openers cheaply, reducing Australia to three for two.
But Clarke and Watson weathered the storm and lifted Australia out of a slump with an unbroken third-wicket stand worth 197.
Earlier Shahid Afridi made a run-a-ball 40 and opener Ahmed Shehzad top scored with a patient 43, but Pakistan's innings stuttered and stumbled and eventually ended at 197 all out in 48.4 overs.
Bollinger, who was handed the new ball, secured his first One-Day International wicket when he dismissed the dangerous Salman Butt (two) off just the third delivery of the innings.
Nathan Bracken accounted for Younus Khan, pegging back the captain's leg stump via an inside edge and the left-arm seamer should have had the wicket of Misbah-ul-Haq with his next ball when the Pakistan vice-captain edged behind to Brad Haddin only to be adjudged not out.
Misbah eventually went lbw for 34 attempting to sweep Clarke and Pakistan then lost wickets in quick succession as Shehzad holed out to long-on and Shoaib Malik (27) was was trapped in front by Bollinger.
Kamran Akmal managed just one run before he was bowled by Stuart Clark before Afridi hammered Clark for a couple of boundaries in the seamer's sixth over, but mistimed a pull while attempting to force the pace in the batting powerplay and presented Bollinger with his third wicket.
Yasir Arafat chipped in with a useful, unbeaten 23, but Bollinger ran through the tail, claiming the wickets of Shoaib and Saeed Ajmal in his eighth over as Pakistan's innings ended prematurely.
Shoaib dismissed Brad Haddin for a golden duck and ended debutant Marcus North's innings early by trapping him in front for one in the reply, but Watson and Clarke then rebuilt before going on to record a resounding victory.
The result puts Australia into an unassailable 3-1 lead ahead of the series finale on Sunday.