Australia Win Final ODI by 8 Wickets Author: Maaz; Views: 217; Date: 3-08-2012, 07:02;

Pakistan U19s lost the 3rd ODI by 8 wickets. Opening batsmen Bancrofts was awarded the player of the match award and the player of the series award. The series finished at 2-1 with Australia winning the dead rubber. This was Pakistan's 2nd series win this year in the 2 series they have played against a full member country. They also won 2-1 against South Africa in January.

For Pakistan there were some bright middle order performances such as Imam ul Haq and vice captain Umar Waheed who both made half centuries to steady the ship and do the necessary repair work.

All 3 matches were one sided contests with the chasing side winning comprehensively.

The defeat has broken Pakistan's 11 match undefeated streak in their U19 year.

Pakistan will now play 2 matches which are warm ups on the 7th against England and 8th against Papua New Guinnea before their world cup opener against Afghanistan in 8 days time.

One of the concerning matters for Pakistan during this series was the sudden loss of form of their star performer this year in Sami Aslam who was dismissed cheaply in all 3 encounters.

Nevertheless a series win against the defending champions, hosts and historically most successful U19 world cup side is a big enough confidence booster ahead of the all important campaign.