Shoaib Akhtar steers Pakistan to a 91 run victory over Australia

Brisbane, June 19: Superb pace bowling from Shoaib Akhtar steered Pakistan to a 91-run win over Australia in the third and deciding one-day international at the Gabba Ground on Wednesday.

A late rally from Yousuf Youhana and Wasim Akram steered Pakistan to 256 for seven wickets in their 50 overs – and the visitors then dismissed Australia for 165 in just 40 overs to take out the series 2-1.

"It was a total team effort," said Pakistan captain Waqar Younis.

Akram trapped Matthew Hayden, returning to the Australian team after the birth of his first child, for just five, to give the visitors a bright start -- and the Australian batsmen never really recovered from the early setback.

Akhtar claimed four for 16 off six fiery and accurate overs to lift Pakistan into an impregnable position.

Shahid Afridi then helped wrap up the tail, claiming Shane Warne for 31 and Andy Bichel for a duck to finish with two for 30 from his 10 overs.

Akhtar returned to dismiss Jason Gillespie for no score and finished with five for 25 from eight overs.

"I just tried to concentrate on taking wickets rather than just bowling fast," said Akhtar, who was named man of the match and man of the series.

Shane Watson top-scored for Australian with an unbeaten 44 but his teammates' batting was poor.

Youhana and Wasim earlier shared a an unbeaten 88-run partnership, lifting Pakistan from 168 for seven to a formidable total.

Youhana's unbeaten 61 came from 134 balls while veteran Wasim scored 49 from just 32 deliveries, including a pair of towering sixes off the penultimate over.

Akram, who joined India's Mohammad Azharuddin as the most capped limited-overs player with 334 one-day international appearances, twice smashed Glenn McGrath deliveries into the stands. McGrath's final over cost Australia 23 runs.

Opener Imran Nazir top-scored for the tourists with 66 from 97 deliveries but the innings then stalled and it was not not until the eighth-wicket pair came together that Pakistan lifted their pace.

Spinner Warne, with two for 42 from 10 overs, was the best of the largely indisciplined Australian bowlers. All-rounder Watson conceded 46 runs off just five overs.

Australian veteran Darren Lehmann was taken to hospital when he was struck on the left cheek trying to field a delivery from his own bowling.

Lehmann was sporting a bloodshot left eye when he left the field but he returned to the ground late in Pakistan's innings. He was dismissed for a duck when Australia batted.