Cricket: Triumph spurs Waugh

Pakistan 155 and 276 Australia 451 Australia win by innings and 20 runs

AUSTRALIA COMPLETED a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan in Perth yesterday and started laying plans to dish out similar treatment to India in another three-Test series starting in 12 days.

"It has been a real achievement to beat Pakistan so conclusively, because they are a very good Test side," Steve Waugh, the captain, said after his team had won at the WACA by an innings and 20 runs.

The success - which came just before tea on the third day - followed victories by 10 wickets in Brisbane and four wickets in Hobart. Resuming on 40 for 2 in their second innings, Pakistan, who scored 155 first time round, put up a spasmodic fight but were all out for 276.

Ijaz Ahmed was typically adventurous in hitting 115 from 160 balls, plundering 16 boundaries, and his captain, Wasim Akram, hit nine fours in an explosive assault when his side's cause was already lost.

Pakistan's batting was unhinged by the Australian pace spearhead, Glenn McGrath, who took four for 49. But the man-of-the-match award went to Ricky Ponting, who hit a memorable 197 for the hosts. Justin Langer, who made 144 after his 127 in Hobart, won the man-of-the-series award.

Waugh said Australia's goal at the start of the summer had been to win all six Tests at home this season and added: "We cannot see why we cannot do that, with the quality of the players that we have. India are a good side, but they do not have such a good record away from home."

Waugh believes Australia have reached a new level of performance with their remarkable win in Hobart when they recovered from 126 for 5 in their second innings to make 369 for 6 to complete the third-biggest run chase in Test history.

"Overall, our batting has been the big difference between the two sides in this series," Waugh said.

Third day; Pakistan won toss

PAKISTAN - First Innings 155 (M S Kasprowicz 4-53).

AUSTRALIA - First Innings 451 (R T Ponting 197, J L Langer 144; Mohammad Akram 5-138).

PAKISTAN - Second Innings

(Overnight: 40 for 2)

Ijaz Ahmed c Slater b Kasprowicz 115

Saqlain Mushtaq lbw b Kasprowicz 12

Inzamam-ul-Haq c M Waugh

b McGrath 8

Yousuf Youhana c S Waugh b McGrath 0

Azhar Mahmood b Warne 17

Moin Khan c Gilchrist b McGrath 26

*Wasim Akram c McGrath

b Kasprowicz 52

Shoaib Akhtar c Warne b Fleming 8

Mohammad Akram not out 10

Extras (6lb 9nb) 15

Total (69.4 overs) 276

Fall (cont): 3-53, 4-56, 5-114, 6-168, 7-230, 8-256, 9-261.

Bowling: McGrath 21-5-49-4; Fleming 19.4-3-86-2; Kasprowicz 16-3-79-3; Warne 13-1-56-1.

Australia won by an innings and 20 runs to secure three-match series 3-0.

Umpires: D B Hair (Aus) and P Willey (Eng).