Pakistan 176-9
Australia 177-4

An unbeaten 81 from captain Steve Waugh helped lead Australia to a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the tri-series one-day international in Melbourne.

In a match reduced to 41 overs-a-side by rain, Australia recovered from 38-3 to better Pakistan's 176-9 with 13 balls to spare.

The result puts Australia at the top of the league table with six points from four matches. Pakistan are second with four points from three games, while India have lost all three of their matches so far.

Waugh made his runs off 92 balls and shared an unbroken stand of 85 with Damien Martyn.

Pakistan came back from a poor start in their innings, but Australia prevented them from making a big score after Waugh had decided to field in overcast conditions.

The tourists, who won the previous encounter between the two teams by 45 runs at Brisbane, faltered against the Aussies' aggressive bowling and fielding.

Opener Saeed Anwar made 49 and Abdur Razzaq hit an unbeaten 51 off 54 balls, but six batsmen failed to reach double figures.

The pugnacious Razzaq led a late charge in which the last three wickets added 70 runs after Pakistan were struggling at 106 for seven in the 31st over.

Scorecard

Pakistan Innings

Saeed Anwar c Bevan b Symonds 49
Wajahatullah Wasti c Gilchrist b McGrath 8
Ijaz Ahmed lbw b Fleming 0
Inzamam Ul-Haq c Symonds b Shane Lee 8
Yousaf Youhanna c Mark Waugh b Shane Lee 20
Moin Khan c Martyn b Symonds 5
Wasim Akram c Gilchrist b Shane Lee 0
Abdur Razzaq not out 51
Saqlain Mushtaq c Steve Waugh b Brett Lee 11
Waqar Younis c Gilchrist b McGrath 8

Extras (7lb 7w 2nb) 16
TOTAL: 176 for nine wickets.

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-22, 3-42, 4-87, 5-92, 6-92, 7-106, 8-144, 9-176.

Bowling: Glenn McGrath 9-1-48-2, Damien Fleming 8-0-33-1 (3w), Brett Lee 8-0-37-1 (3w 1nb) Shane Lee 8-1-24-3 (1w) Andrew Symonds 8-0-27-2 (1nb).

Australia Innings

Mark Waugh run out 12
Adam Gilchrist lbw b Akhtar 21
Ricky Ponting c Wasti b Akhtarv 0
Michael Bevan run out 15
Steve Waugh not out 81
Damien Martyn not out 39

Extras: (3lb 6w) 9
TOTAL: 177 for four wickets.

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-32, 3-42, 4-92.

Bowling: Wasim Akram 7-0-29-0 (2w), Waqar Younis 6.5-0-48-0 (3w), Shoaib Akhtar 8-2-32-2, Abdur Razzaq 8-0-35-0, Saqlain Mushtaq 9-0-30-0 (1w).

Result: Australia won by six wickets.
Man of the match: Steve Waugh.