SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates - The cool head of Mike Hussey and the youthful flair of Glenn Maxwell combined as Australia chased down a 245-run target with three overs to spare to clinch a 2-1 victory in their one-day international series against Pakistan.
Australia were struggling at 5-159 before Mike Hussey (65) and 23-year-old fourth-gamer Maxwell shared a 67-run partnership to put Australia back in the contest.
Maxwell's unbeaten 56 came off 38 deliveries and included four fours and three sixes.
The series win kept Australia in fourth place on the ODI rankings and continued Australia's ODI dominance over Pakistan who haven't beaten Australia in a series since 2002.
After reaching his maiden half-century, Maxwell fittingly hit a six for the winning runs for a total of 7-250 at 2.15am.
Pakistan's star spinner Saeed Ajmal, whose first spell yielded 3-11 off five overs, finished with 3-37 off nine while fellow spinner Abdur Rehman took 2-41 off nine.
Pacemen Mitchell Starc (4-51) and Mitchell Johnson (2-33) helped restrict Pakistan to 7-244.
Starc, who took five wickets to bowl Australia to victory in game one in Sharjah, was named man of the series while Mike Hussey was man of the match.
"The feeling around the group is a great feeling at the moment, especially after losing four-nil against England (in June)," a jubilant Australia captain Michael Clarke said.
"It's very special."
Clarke said the conditions in Sharjah were challenging to say the least.
"I've never played in heat and humidity like this," he said.
Mike Hussey should have been out lbw to spinner Saeed Ajmal for a duck, but the appeal was turned down and Pakistan decided against calling for a umpires' referral which is likely to have gone in their favour.
Clarke said he was grateful to still have 37-year-old Mike Hussey in his side.