Sharjah: Aaron Finch’s fine century (116r, 135b, 4×8, 6×4) drove Australia to a convincing eight-wicket win over a new-look Pakistan in the first one-day international on Friday.
The Austraian skipper scored 116 off 135 balls for his 12th one-day international century that helped his team overhaul the 281-run target in 49 overs.
The win gives Australia the lead in the five-match series and has come on the back of their 3-2 series win in India earlier this month.
Finch’s match-winning knock overshadowed Haris Sohail’s maiden one-day hundred (101 no, 115b, 4×6, 6×1) which helped Pakistan to 280-5 in their 50 overs.
Finch, who knocked four sixes and eight boundaries, added an innings-building 172 runs for the second wicket with Shaun Marsh who scored an unbeaten 91 off 102 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.
With 46 needed Finch became Mohammad Abbas’s maiden wicket but Peter Handscomb hit 30 not out to help Marsh cross the line.
Finch and Marsh came together after opener Usman Khawaja fell for 24 to medium pacer Faheem Ashraf (9-50-1), the only other success Pakistan’s new-look bowling attack could achieve.
The young and inexperienced Pakistan led by Shoaib Malik proved no match for Australia, who are on a roll after their win in India earlier this month.
Sunday’s second ODI is also being played in Sharjah, with the third in Abu Dhabi (March 27) and the last two in Dubai (March 29 and 31).
Brief scores
Pakistan 280/5 in 50 overs (Sohail 101 no, 115b, 4×6, 6×1; Nathan Coulter-Nile 10-61-2)
Australia 281/2 in 49 overs (Finch 116r, 135b, 4×8, 6×4; Ashraf 9-50-1)
AFP