DHAKA: Michael Hussey smashed a brilliant century to help Australia win the third and final One-Day International against Bangladesh by 66 runs Wednesday to complete a clean-sweep of the three-match series. Hussey bludgeoned 108 and Shane Watson hit 72 as Australia piled up 361 for eight. Bangladesh made a decent fist of the run chase with opener Imrul Kayes (93) and Shahriar Nafees (60) sharing a second-wicket stand of 136 but the hosts fell short on 295 for six. Watson gave the Australian innings another electric start. Following on from hitting a world record 15 sixes in his 185 not out Monday, the opener raced to a half-century in 25 balls before left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak trapped him leg before to end his onslaught. Ricky Ponting (47), dropped by Razzak off Mashrafee Mortaza at midwicket when he was on four, and Clarke (47) built on the early impetus and Hussey, who hit his third one-day century, clubbed nine fours and two sixes in the middle overs on a fine batting pitch. Australia kicked on again after Hussey fell, Mitchell Johnson hitting 41 from 24 balls. Bangladesh was going well at 179 for one in reply before debutant James Pattinson had Kayes caught behind for his first one-day wicket and Australia soon regained control with Johnson dismissing Nafees. Mahmudullah hung on until the end to remain unbeaten on 68. Pakistan plans to launch new cricket league Pakistan hopes to launch a new cricket league based on the lucrative Indian Premier League in a bid to win back its status as an international host, an official said Wednesday. International cricket has been suspended in Pakistan since March 2009 when gunmen attacked a convoy carrying the Sri Lankan cricket team in the eastern city of Lahore. Security fears remain high, but Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) domestic cricket general manager Sultan Rana said the popularity of the Twenty20 format made it a possibility worth exploring. “We have discussed the idea of having a professional IPL type league in the recent PCB cricket committee meeting and agreed to keep it alive as one of the main events to restore our international activity,” Rana said. Rana told the pakpassion.net cricket website that top foreign players would not be willing to play in Pakistan and the PCB was exploring the idea of staging the tournament in Dubai. Rana acknowledged the security situation in Pakistan needed to improve before the resumption of international cricket.
