First ODI: Imam’s century in vain as Australia beats Pakistan by 88 runs

LAHORE: Opener Imam-ul-Haq’s century went in vain as Australia defeated Pakistan by 88 runs in the opening one-day international (ODI) of three-match series at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday.  

Australian opener Travis Head staged a remarkable return to one-day cricket with a fiery century to guide Australia to 313-7 in the first ODI.

Head knocked a 72-ball 101 — his second One-Day International (ODI) hundred — while Ben McDermott hit a career-best 55 from 70 balls after Australia were sent in to bat by Pakistan.

Head, playing his first ODI since November 2018, cracked 12 boundaries and three sixes and put on 110 for the opening wicket with skipper Aaron Finch who made 23.

Head took a single on off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed’s delievery to reach three figures off 70 balls, the fastest ODI century by an Australian against Pakistan. He beat David Warner’s record of 78 balls in Adelaide in 2017.

With the score at 209-2 in the 33rd over, Pakistan pulled back with three wickets for just 21 runs in the space of 39 balls, dismissing McDermott, Marnus Labuschagne (25) and Alex Carey (four).

Cameron Green (40 not out), Marcus Stoinis (26) and Sean Abbott (14) helped Australia score 50 in the last five overs and get past 300-mark. Green hit three boundaries and a six in his 30-ball knock.

For Pakistan, pacer Haris Rauf took 2-44 and debutant leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood finished with 2-59.

Australia, already missing key players such as Warner, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc for multiple reasons, were further depleted after spinner Ashton Agar tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday.

The remaining two matches are on Thursday and Saturday, also in Lahore.

Lineups

Pakistan: Babar Azam (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Saud Shakeel, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim, Haris Rauf, Zahid Mahmood.

Australia: Aaron Finch (captain), Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson.