Pakistan
Match Complete
Australia
| 2/281 |
| 1/50 (9.0) | *Ashraf | O: 49.0 | Handscomb* | 30 (27) |
| 0/59 (9.0) | Amir | RR:4.92 | Marsh | 91 (102) |
| c. Rizwan b. Abbas |  | 42.3 2/235 |  | Finch 116(135) |
| c. Malik b. Ashraf | | 11.1 1/63 | | Khawaja 24(30) |
| First Innings: Pakistan | 5/280 | RR: 4.80 | O: 50.0 |
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| First Innings: Pakistan | 5/280 | RR: 4.80 | O: 50.0 |
|---|
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
I. ul-Haq c+b. Lyon | 17 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 62.96 |
S.M. Khan b. Coulter-Nile | 40 | 62 | 5 | 0 | 64.52 |
H. Sohail not out | 101 | 115 | 6 | 1 | 87.83 |
U. Akmal c. Finch b. Coulter-Nile | 48 | 50 | 0 | 3 | 96.00 |
S. Malik* b. Maxwell | 11 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 157.14 |
F. Ashraf c. Stoinis b. Richardson | 28 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 107.69 |
S.I. Wasim not out | 28 | 13 | 4 | 1 | 215.38 |
M. Rizwan+ | |||||
M. Amir | |||||
Y. Shah | |||||
M. Abbas | |||||
Extras (b 0, lb 2, w 5, nb 0) | 7 | ||||
| Total | 280 | ||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Ec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.A. Richardson | 8.0 | 1 | 64 | 1 | 8.00 |
| N.M. Coulter-Nile | 10.0 | 0 | 61 | 2 | 6.10 |
| N.M. Lyon | 10.0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 3.80 |
| G.J. Maxwell | 10.0 | 0 | 57 | 1 | 5.70 |
| A. Zampa | 10.0 | 0 | 44 | 0 | 4.40 |
| M.P. Stoinis | 2.0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 |
| First Innings: Australia | 2/281 | RR: 4.92 | O: 49.0 |
|---|
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
U.T. Khawaja c. Malik b. Ashraf | 24 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 80.00 |
A.J. Finch* c. Rizwan b. Abbas | 116 | 135 | 8 | 4 | 85.93 |
S.E. Marsh not out | 91 | 102 | 4 | 2 | 89.22 |
P.S.P. Handscomb not out | 30 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 111.11 |
G.J. Maxwell | |||||
M.P. Stoinis | |||||
A.T. Carey+ | |||||
N.M. Coulter-Nile | |||||
J.A. Richardson | |||||
N.M. Lyon | |||||
A. Zampa | |||||
Extras (b 4, lb 8, w 8, nb 0) | 20 | ||||
| Total | 281 | ||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Ec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Amir | 9.0 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 6.56 |
| M. Abbas | 10.0 | 0 | 44 | 1 | 4.40 |
| S.I. Wasim | 10.0 | 1 | 50 | 0 | 5.00 |
| F. Ashraf | 9.0 | 0 | 50 | 1 | 5.56 |
| Y. Shah | 10.0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 5.60 |
| S. Malik | 1.0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10.00 |
Australia will hope they can carry their ODI form from their tour of India into the series against Pakistan and the two teams will meet in the first of five ODIs in Sharjah on Friday, March 22. The match begins at 3pm local time or 10pm AEDT and you can follow it live with The Roar below.
Not too many had given Australia a chance in India but to come out of that series 3-2 winners after being down 2-0 was not just commendable.
It was an extraordinary performance that should give the side so much confidence going into this match-up against Pakistan.
This was after India had beaten them in their own backyards for the first time ever in a bilateral ODI and Test series.
And now with the World Cup not too many weeks away, it is their chance to build on that result and finalise their squad.
While Steven Smith and David Warner haven’t been brought into the line-up for this series, there are very few doubts about their selection going into that tournament in the UK, which means a couple of those who played in India and who are playing against Pakistan here might have to give way.
That, in short, means those batsmen on the fringes might be auditioning for their place.
Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch will continue to open but the skipper needs to get some consistent form going.
Despite the odd spark of brilliance, his troubles with the incoming delivery was exposed and that might be a problem against a strong pace attack that Pakistan has.
There were a few fitness question-marks over Glenn Maxwell but the buzz was that he will play, while Shaun Marsh might need to give way for Ashton Turner to cement his place in the side after that wonderful match-winning knock in the fourth ODI versus India.
Given the pitch conditions, they might even opt to play both their spinners.
Pakistan have strung up a semi-full strength side, resting six of their key players including captain Sarfaraz Ahmed.
In his place Shoaib Malik will lead the side and the likes of Haris Sohail, Shan Masood and Mohammad Amir will add that blend of experience along with the youth.
The onus will be on how Imam-ul-Haq goes especially given the bright start to his career, but with Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam already in the ranks. Umar Akmal makes a comeback to the squad, while Faheem Ashraf and Imad Wasim will hope they can prove a point with the bat in their hands.
Mohammad Hasnain has been added to the squad after a fine performance in the PSL but he might not immediately get a go.
Prediction
Australia to edge past this under-strength Pakistan side in their opening ODI.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this first ODI between Pakistan and Australia from 9 pm (AEST) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Aaron Finch confirmed his position for the World cup for sure.
TheCunningLinguistic
Roar Rookie
For sure, pat on the back. ????
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Not a full strength Australian side either Suneer! I think it's going to be a very good World Cup as long as the English weather doesn't play too much of a role.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Sure this was not a full-strength Pakistan side but the manner in which Australia chased down 281 for a win for the loss of just two wickets and with an over to spare, is just incredible. If there was any doubt they would be a force to reckon with in the World Cup, these last four matches have driven them all away. Four wins in a row. Finch's century, one after nine months in ODIs, should win him the MoM award, but mostly should give him so much confidence after all his recent travails.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four singles and a four. You beauty, Shaun Marsh, who rounds it off with a couple of runs. That also means the game's done, a beautifully-chased score, done in 49 overs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
This is effortless batting, calm-headed batting. 18 needed off 18 and not much of shot-making in anger, picking the runs and running well between the wickets and they manage eight off it. 10 needed from 12.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Abbas, into his final over, continues and does a good job conceding just two off the first three balls. However, a clip off his hips earns Handscomb another two and then another couple of runs means they need 18 from 18 now.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Three more singles following that boundary makes it 24 needed off 24 balls.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The much-needed four, Handscomb works Ashraf to the fence off the third ball of the over to make it a run-a-ball again. 27 needed off 27.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Not quite the double-wicket maiden but could have had one. Abbas fails to hold on to one on his follow-through, and Australia get five runs off the next five balls. 33 needed from 30.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Can Abbas bowl a double-wicket maiden or thereabouts? He will bowl his ninth.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Faheem Ashraf has returned but he bowls his short of length ball at Handscomb who converts it into an even shorter ball to pull it over mid-wicket for a four. A couple more off the next ball before a single off the last means they need 38 from six overs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
An excellent over from Abbas, two runs and a wicket and that pulls Pakistan back somewhat. 45 needed from 42. Cakewalk still.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Peter Handscomb walks out at four.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone! Abbas finally has one... ...and Finch finally falls! Edged and taken by the keeper. Gone for 116 but with Australia needing a mere 46 off 45. Canter from here on despite the wicket.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And when things aren't going your way, they really don't go your way. Yasir Shah, in his final over, has a catch put down, this one by Imad. Hit to long-off where Imad drops him. Five singles from the over. Just 47 needed from 48.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Mohammad Amir might not remain a certainty in the Pakistani ODI squad if he keeps going like this. Comes back into the attack and gets smashed first ball for a six by Finch. Follows it up with a good over but concedes two more to get to figures of 0/49 from his eight. He looks like he has lost that spark. 1/229 in 41.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Five runs from the Yasir Shah over. He's done with nine, conceding 51. Australia need 60 from 60.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
100 with a six! Captain Malik brings himself on and Captain Finch goes after him. Huge one and that takes him to his first century in ages, coming off 120 balls. Four other singles from the over to make it 10 off it. The required-rate has gone down to less than six an over.