Pak Vs Aus: Imam’s Century Couldn’t Save Pakistan From Defeat
Abdullah Hussain (@Abdulla99267510) Published March 30, 2022 | 01:47 PM
Zampa gave really tough time to the host team and took four wickets against 38 balls.
LAHORE: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-March 30th, 2022) Travis Head smashed a 72-ball 101 and capped his ODI return with two wickets to lead a short-handed Australia to an impressive 88-run victory over Pakistan in the series-opener in Lahore.
Chasing 314, Pakistan rued a slow start and struggled against Australia's spinners in dewy conditions under lights to be bowled out for 225 in the 46th over in what was a return to the format for Australia and Pakistan since July.
Australia had only 13 players to choose from, and handed debuts to legspinner Mitchell Swepson and quick Nathan Ellis. Pakistan had fresh faces, too, with 34-year-old legspinner Zahid Mahmood and young quick Mohammad Wasim making their ODI debuts.
Despite missing their first choice pace attack, along with Ashton Agar, who tested positive for Covid-19 on the morning of the game, a disciplined Australia tied down Pakistan in the middle overs through Swepson and Adam Zampa in a rare occurrence of the tourists playing two frontline spinners. Swepson claimed the key wicket of captain Babar Azam for 57, while Zampa tore through the lower-order to finish with 4 for 38 from his ten overs.
Pakistan's chase was held together by Imam-ul-Haq, who averaged 74.6 in the Test series, with the opener hitting 103 off 96 as he accelerated towards his century after a sedate start. But he fell to a cracking yorker from Ellis in a terrific maiden ODI wicket as Australia's unbeaten tour of Pakistan continued.
Imam and Babar paid the price for a cautious 96-run second-wicket partnership, off 118 balls, where they appeared to be in cruise control only for the run rate to keep increasing.
In the first ODI in Lahore since 2015, which was Babar's debut, the Pakistan skipper became the second-quickest after Hashim Amla to reach 4000 ODI runs and he achieved the milestone in style with a boundary off Swepson amid fans chanting his name while waving their lighted smartphones.
Eyeing the long haul, Babar knocked the ball around and hit the odd boundary through masterful precision. After a gorgeous square drive off Swepson, he survived a shout for lbw with the decision upheld much to the chagrin of skipper Aaron Finch, continuing Australia's poor use of DRS from the Test series.
But Swepson, finding a groove he lacked during his Test initiation, would not be denied with a first ODI wicket when he trapped Babar lbw in the next over with a full legbreak that was unsuccessfully reviewed.
With the ball skidding on the surface, Head's terrific match continued with a handy spell mid-innings, and his nagging offbreaks accounted for Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed. It capped a commanding performance for Head, who played his first ODI since November 2018.
After being sent in, Australia appeared on course for a big total through Head's pyrotechnics at the top, only to be pegged back by Pakistan's spinners before Cameron Green gave them a late spark with an unbeaten 40 off 30 balls.
Having struggled during Australia's historic Test series victory, averaging just 22.67, Head was in sparkling form from the get-go as he dominated a Pakistan attack desperately missing the speed and skill of spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was rested after a heavy workload during the Test series.
It was Head's second ODI century - both have been against Pakistan - and he showcased his liking for the top of the order to boost his average as opener to 45.69 from 13 matches, which is well above his overall mark of 36.
He dominated a 110-run opening stand with Finch and may have heightened the pressure on the struggling Australia captain's long-term place at the top. Having laboured through the Australian summer with a knee injury, Finch once again lacked fluency in his first ODI since December 2020 to make an unconvincing 23 off 36.
No. 3 Ben McDermott, however, made his case with a calm 55 off 70 until he needlessly ran himself out after a misfield. The BBL MVP has struggled in ODIs and T20Is but mostly played sensibly in his maiden ODI half-century.
It was a tale of two halves for Australia in their batting innings, as they scored around seven runs an over in the first half only to be tied down in the second, with Zahid producing sharp turn while left-arm orthodox Khushdil Shah bowled an excellent spell at the back-end.
Their total appeared par for the course but it proved more than enough as Head completed his comeback in style to lead Australia to their tenth straight ODI win over Pakistan.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Azam Khan likely to miss T20I series against Kiwis due to discomfort in right kn ..
Badar Shahbaz Warraich appointed as PM’s media coordinator
Finance Minister rules out rupee devaluation in talks with IMF
National team determined for good performance against New Zealand: Babar Azam
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 18 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 18 April 2024
Saka and Odegaard start for Arsenal, Guerreiro in Bayern midfield
Qatar PM says re-evaluating Israel-Hamas mediation role
Govt spokesperson terms allegations of PTI's Marwat against Saudi Arabia 'heinou ..
Minister appreciate UAE’s support for Pakistan economic challenges
Manchester City v Real Madrid Champions League starting line-ups
MIGA's support Pakistan in attracting foreign investments: Federal Minister for ..
More Stories From Sports
-
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
23 minutes ago -
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
2 hours ago -
Azam Khan likely to miss T20I series against Kiwis due to discomfort in right knee
2 hours ago -
Former number one Momota retires from international badminton at 29
2 hours ago -
Two Pak coaches complete UCI Level 1 course
4 hours ago -
National team determined for good performance against New Zealand: Babar Azam
5 hours ago
-
Saka and Odegaard start for Arsenal, Guerreiro in Bayern midfield
16 hours ago -
Manchester City v Real Madrid Champions League starting line-ups
16 hours ago -
Walker returns to captain Man City for Real Madrid clash
16 hours ago -
Nadal comeback ends in Barcelona Open second round
17 hours ago -
Karachi, Lahore, Quetta win matches of National Women’s Cricket Tournament
16 hours ago -
Pakistan, West Indies ODI series commences on Thursday
17 hours ago