Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting scored unbeaten half-centuries to guide Australia to a record fifth series win of 2004 on Wednesday, beating Pakistan by nine wickets on the fourth day of the second Test.

Top-ranked Australia had beaten Sri Lanka 3-0 and 1-0 in March and July before claiming a 2-1 win in India in October-November, their first series victory there for 35 years. Ponting's side also crushed New Zealand 2-0 in Brisbane and Adelaide last month.

Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne combined to take seven wickets in Pakistan's second innings of 163, which left the home side chasing 126 to win.

Australia started their innings shortly before lunch on Wednesday's fourth day of play, losing Justin Langer for five in the second over, caught behind off the bowling of Mohammad Sami.

Hayden (56 not out) and Ponting (62 not out) added 116 for the second wicket.

Ponting clubbed leg spinner Danish Kaneria over long-on for six to hit the winning runs in the 28th over.

Australia, who won the first Test in Perth by 491 runs, hold an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The third Test starts in Sydney on January 2.

The home side had claimed a first innings lead of 38 with their total of 379 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, led by man of the match Damien Martyn's 142.

Pakistan resumed their second innings on 85 for five with an overall lead of 47 runs.

Mohammad Sami (11) fell leg before wicket to Jason Gillespie and wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal failed to settle as he was out for a duck to leave the visitors on 101 for seven.

All-rounder Shoaib Malik, who had retired hurt with split webbing in his hand, returned after Akmal's dismissal and scored a courageous 41 with four fours and two sixes.

Malik's knock came to an end when he misjudged a delivery from Warne (3-66) and was caught at mid-on, lifting the world's leading wicket-taker to a total of 561 victims.

In the following over McGrath (4-35) was finally introduced into the attack and the paceman struck with his second ball, removing Abdul Razzaq for 19. Razzaq also played a brave innings after he had been taken to hospital on Tuesday complaining of dizziness and nausea.

Shoaib Akhtar hit Warne for two sixes but was caught behind off McGrath's bowling in the next over as the innings closed 22 minutes before the lunch break.

Scoreboard

Pakistan 1st innings 341

Australia 1st innings 379

Pakistan 2nd innings (85-5 overnight)
Salman Butt c Kasprowicz b McGrath 0
Imran Farhat c Martyn b Gillespie 5
Yasir Hameed c Gilchrist b McGrath 23
Younis Khan c Hayden b Kasprowicz 23
Yousuf Youhana c Ponting b Warne 12
Shoaib Malik c Gillespie b Warne 41
Mohammad Sami lbw b Gillespie 11
Kamran Akmal lbw b Warne 0
Abdul Razzaq c Gilchrist b McGrath 19
Shoaib Akhtar b McGrath 14
Danish Kaneria not out 9

Extras (lb-1, b-2) 6

Total (all out, 64.2 overs) 163

Fall of wickets: 1-0 2-13 3-35 4-60 5-68 6-98 7-101 8-140 9-140

Bowling: McGrath 11.2-1-35-4, Gillespie 12-7-15-2, Kasprowicz 16-3-42-1, Warne 25-7-66-3.

Australia 2nd innings
Justin Langer c Kamran Akmal b Mohammad Sami 5
Matthew Hayden not out 56
Ricky Ponting not out 62

Extras (nb-2, lb-2) 4

Total (for one wicket, 27.5 overs) 127

Fall of wickets: 1-11

Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 7-0-35-0, Mohammad Sami 5-0-22-1 (nb-2), Danish Kaneria 10.5-1-52-0, Imran Farhat 5-2-16-0.

Result: Australia won by nine wickets

Man of the match: Damien Martyn.

Australia lead the three-match series 2-0.

Next match: Australia v Pakistan, third Test in Sydney, January 2-6.