Aussies crush Pakistan by 88 runs in ODI opener

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2022-03-29T22:53:54+05:00 Muhammad Yashal Mazhar
Aussies have crushed Pakistan by 88 runs in the ODI opener, here at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.

Coming out to bat first, the Australian openers Aaron Finch and Head provided a solid start to the side and put on a magnificent century-plus partnership for the first wicket.

Australian captain Finch, who was struggling to get going, made his way back in the 15th over as the debutant Zahid Mehmood dismissed him for 23. The right-handed opener faced 36 balls and hit only one-six.

His opening partner, Head, on the other hand, kept the scoreboard ticking and went on to score his second ODI century off just 70 balls. The left-handed batter, however, fell briefly after reaching the milestone as he lost his wicket to Iftikhar Ahmed after attempting to slog the ball over the long-off boundary.

The left-handed opener top-scored with 101 off 72 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and three sixes. The right-handed batter Ben McDermott, on the other hand, also chipped in with his half-century. He followed back with a brilliant knock of 55 off 70 deliveries, laced with four boundaries.

Following his dismissal, the touring side began to lose wickets at an alarming rate and as a result, was restricted to 313/7 in the 50 overs. Australia’s all-rounder Cameron Green contributed with his unbeaten 40 at the death.

For Pakistan, Haris Rauf and Zahid led the way with two wickets each, while Iftikhar and Khushdil Shah made one scalp each.

Chasing the target, the left-hand duo came to crease to achieve the target given by the Aussies but Fakhar Zaman who was incredible in PSL season 7 was not able to show a great knock and was dismissed off Sean Abbott's delivery on 18 runs. The skipper joined the action and gathered partnership of 96 runs with Imam ul Haq. The partnership got destroyed when the skipper had to go back to the pavilion after making a half-century. He made 57 runs with the help of 6 fours. The middle-order comprising Saud Shakeel, wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmad could not turn their scores into double figures. After playing massive innings, the left-hander opener Imam ul Haq perished on 103. He smashed six fours and three sixes. The other batters was also not up to the mark and lose their wickets consistently.

For Australia, Adam Zampa bagged four wickets while Swepson and Head took two scalps each.
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