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Australia take 2-1 lead after one-day win

  • Story Highlights
  • Australia take 2-1 lead in five-match one-day cricket series against Pakistan
  • Pakistan restricted Australia to 198 for seven from their 50 overs in Abu Dhabi
  • However, Pakistan are then bowled out for just 171 as Australia win by 27 runs
  • ICC confirm most of 2011 World Cup games set for Pakistan switched to India
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(CNN) -- Australia took a 2-1 lead in the five-match one-day cricket series after defeating Pakistan by 27 runs in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening.

Captain Michael Clarke hit a battling 63 to lead Australia to victory in the third one-dayer.

Captain Michael Clarke hit a battling 63 to lead Australia to victory in the third one-dayer.

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

Captain 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 seamer Sohail Tanvir -- who was selected at the expense of Shoaib Akhtar -- helped Australian openers Brad Haddin and James Hopes make a cracking start in good batting conditions.

Haddin struck Tanvir for consecutive blows in his first over, as the left-armer conceded 14 runs in his first two overs.

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

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

Gul then sent back Shane Watson for a second-ball duck to have Australia reeling at 28 for two. Clarke and Haddin steadied the ship but Australia lost their way again with the advent of the spinners.

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 Symondswas snared by Afridi for only six and Clarke fell while attempting to force the pace while the batting power play was in progress.

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

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 his 50, proved the turning point, the opener edging Hauritz to 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.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council have confirmed that the majority of the 2011 World Cup matches scheduled to be held in Pakistan will be switched to India.

The tournament was set to be co-hosted by Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka with Pakistan to host 14 matches.

But the ICC, at its executive board meeting in Dubai earlier this month, decided to strip Pakistan of its hosting rights because of safety concerns arising from an "uncertain political situation" in the country.

At a World Cup organizing committee meeting in Mumbai on Tuesday, India were given 29 matches including the final and one semifinal, while Sri Lanka are set to host 12 matches including a semifinal and Bangladesh eight matches and the opening ceremony.

ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat, who attended the meeting, said he was confident adequate security measures would be put in place in the subcontinent to ensure the event goes ahead as planned.

"We have formed in the central organizing committee a security team to be directed by Board of Control for Cricket in India president Shashank Manohar," he told reporters.

"We recognize that it's important we instill confidence in the security measures we have in place. We have no doubt that we will be able to put together security plans that would successfully help host the World Cup in 2011."

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