Hussey revives Australia to 248-9 in 2nd one-day

Michael Hussey hit a resolute half-century to defy spinner Saeed Ajmal as Australia scored 248-9 in the second one-day international against Pakistan here on Friday. The 37-year-old left-hander held the innings with 61 -- for his 38th one-day fifty -- to help Australia recover from a precarious 87-4 after they won the toss and batted on a firm pitch at the Abu Dhabi Stadium. Australia scored 73 runs in the last ten overs foiling Ajmal who finished with 4-32 and at one point looked threatening to keep Australia to inside 220. Hussey added an invaluable 66 for the fifth wicket with George Bailey (39) and then a rapid 58 for the sixth with Glenn Maxwell who made 27-ball 28 to give Pakistan a challenging target. Hussey hit two sixes and a boundary off 72 balls before he was bowled by Ajmal in the 46th over Australia lost Mathew Wade to paceman Junaid Khan for seven in the second over, bowled after he was dropped by Umar Akmal a ball earlier. Khan finished with 3-52. Warner, who played an uncharacteristically slow knock with his first run coming off 19th delivery, and Michael Clarke (37) slowly progresed the score to 74 before Pakistani spinners Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeex (1-28) took three quick wickets. Hafeez dismissed Clarke while Ajmal accounted for Warner -- both trapped in front of the wicket. Warner hit two boundaries in his 24 which came off 68 balls. Maxwell hit two towering sixes off Rehman in the 40th over, helping Australia to 31 in the batting power-play. Australia, who lead the three-match series 1-0, remained unchanged from the side which won the first match by four wickets in Sharjah. Pakistan were forced to leave out Shahid Afridi (back problem) and Aizaz Cheema to bring in Rehman and Khan.