Pakistan vs Australia 1st ODI: Head's century help visitors take early lead

Mar 29, 2022

Pakistan vs Australia 1st ODI: Head's century help visitors take early lead Image

Australia beat Pakistan by 88 runs at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Chasing 314, Pakistan were bowled out for 225. 

Travis Head, who came in to open the innings with Aaron Finch, responded with a hundred. He and Finch added 110 for the opening stand before the latter fell to Zahid Mahmood. Head attacked from the beginning, smashing five fours off Hasan Ali in his first two overs.

Mahmood was not spared either, as Head struck two sixes in his opening spell. He reached his hundred in the 25th over before holing out to Khushdil Shah on 101. Ben McDermott was run out for 55, but an unbeaten 40 from Cam Green propelled Australia to 313/7. 

Pakistan lost an early wicket in Fakhar Zaman before Babar Azam and Imam-ul-Haq steadied the innings with a 96-run stand. Babar, however, took 72 balls for his 57 and his scoring rate increased the asking rate. 

Imam carried on his good form the Test series, scoring 103 in 96 balls, but did not get the support from the other end. Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, and Iftikhar Ahmed fell cheaply, and Pakistan slumped from 120/2 to 166/5, and were bowled out for 225. Adam Zampa claimed four wickets, while Mitchell Swepson and Head picked up two apiece.

Australia 313/7 in 50 overs (Travis Head 101; Haris Rauf 2-44) beat Pakistan 225 in 45.2 overs (Imam ul Haq 103; Adam Zampa 4-38) by 88 runs. Player of the Match: Travis Head.