ABU DHABI, (Reuters) – Kamran Akmal smashed an  unbeaten century to lift Pakistan to a seven-wicket win over  Australia in the final one-day match in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Akmal cracked 116 off 115 balls to help his side overhaul  Australia’s 250 for four with three overs to spare, denying the  touring side a fourth successive win in a series played in the  UAE due to security concerns in Pakistan.

Batting with authority and conviction, Akmal prospered in a  198-run fourth-wicket stand with Misbah-ul Haq (76) to set up  the consolation win for Pakistan who lost the series 3-2.

Pakistan stuttered early, losing three wickets for just 58  runs by the 16th over, but Akram and Haq suffocated hopes of a  further breakthrough with sensible batting against a disciplined  Australian attack.

Earlier, Australia built their innings around Shane Watson  who hammered an unbeaten 116 off 146 balls in his second one-day  international century, in the company of Callum Ferguson who  remained unbeaten on 41.

Pakistan captain Younis Khan, who made 27, attributed the  victory to team efforts.

“We needed a good partnership to match pace with the asking  rate and thanks to Akmal and Misbah we did the same. They showed  good commitment on the field,” he told reporters.

“Australia is a fantastic side and winning any match against  them is special. We may have lost the series but have learned a  lot from them, especially how to build the innings under  pressure.”

Australia’s stand-in captain Michael Clarke, named Player of  the Series, said it was a fantastic series.

“I thought a score of 250 was good enough to defend, but  full marks to the Pakistani batsmen who played really well,” he  said.

Clarke will return home to Australia before Thursday’s  Twenty20 match against Pakistan in Dubai in order to rest before  the Twenty20 World Cup and the Ashes series in England.