Australia took a 2-1 lead in the five-match one-day series after beating Pakistan by 27 runs in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan had restricted Australia to 198 for seven from their 50 overs but could only manage 171 all out in reply.

Skipper Michael Clarke was again Australia's hero as he made a battling 63 before taking three for 15 with the ball.

A ragged spell from left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir - who was picked at the expense of Shoaib Akhtar - helped Australia openers Brad Haddin and James Hopes make a cracking start in good batting conditions.

Haddin struck Tanvir for consecutive blows in his first over, the left-arm seamer conceding 14 runs in his first two overs.

Expensive

Umar Gul, who had handled the new ball, was also a touch expensive to begin with, helping Australia flourish.

But Pakistan hit back with skipper Younus Khan throwing down the stumps at the non-striker's end with a direct throw from mid-off catching Hopes (15) just short of his crease while the batsman attempted a single.

Good Moments

Gul then sent back Shane Watson for a second-ball duck immediately after to have Australia reeling at 28 for two.

Clarke and Haddin steadied the ship somewhat but Australia lost their way again with the advent of the spinners.

Scoring rate

Shahid Afridi was pressed into action at the start of the 14th over and Australia's scoring rate dropped dramatically.

But it was Shoaib Malik who separated the pair, bowling Haddin (26) as the wicketkeeper-batsman moved too far across while attempting to tuck one down to third man.

Andrew Symonds, who had survived a good shout for leg before on only the second ball he faced, was eventually snared by Afridi for only six and Clarke fell while attempting to force the pace while the batting powerplay was in progress.

Top Performer

Clarke had put on 54 for the fifth wicket with Callum Ferguson, who carried on briefly after his skipper's departure, while Nathan Hauritz got Australia close to the 200-run mark with an unbeaten 19 off only 18 deliveries.

Gul finished the top wicket-taker with three for 38 from eight.

Victory

Pakistan made a good start to their reply, with Salman Butt and Ahmed Shehzad putting on 95 for the first wicket and seemingly putting their side on course for victory.

But Butt's wicket, two short of a half-century, proved the turning point, the opener edging Hauritz to first slip.

Khan went for a duck the next ball before Misbah-ul-Haq became Clarke's first victim.

The same bowler then snared Shehzad for 40 while Afridi (6), Kamran Akmal (8), Yasir Arafat (3) and Tanvir (11) all went cheaply.

Malik chipped in with a useful 30 but, when he was run out, the game was up, and Gul quickly became the last man out with nearly three overs left.

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