SHARJAH: Australia defeated Pakistan by eight wickets with one over spare in the first One-day International at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Captain Finch scored 116 to help Australia chase down a target of 281 in 49 overs. Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb were both not out with respective scores of 91 and 30.
Pakistan´s total of 280-5 was built around by a maiden century from Haris Sohail, who shot 101 not out.
Sunday´s second ODI will also be held in Sharjah.
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At the end of over 49: 281/2
At the end of over 48: 271/2
At the end of over 47: 263/2
At the end of over 46: 257/2
At the end of over 45: 248/2
At the end of over 44: 243/2
At the end of over 43: 236 /2
AJ Finch c Mohammad Rizwan b Mohammad Abbas 116
At the end of over 42: 234 /1
At the end of over 41: 229 /1
At the end of over 40: 221 /1
At the end of over 39: 216 /1
Aaron Finch completes his 12th ODI hundred with a six off Shoaib Malik
At the end of over 38: 206 /1
At the end of over 37: 197 /1
At the end of over 36: 193 /1
At the end of over 35: 188 /1
At the end of over 34: 179/1
At the end of over 33: 168/1
At the end of over 32: 168/1
At the end of over 31: 164/1
At the end of over 30: 158/1
At the end of over 29: 154/1
At the end of over 28: 148/1
At the end of over 27: 139/1
At the end of over 26: 134/1
At the end of over 25: 124/1
At the end of over 24: 121/1
At the end of over 23: 117/1
At the end of over 22: 112/1
At the end of over 21: 109/1
At the end of over 20: 102/1
At the end of over 19: 98/1
At the end of over 18: 93/1
At the end of over 17: 88/1
At the end of over 16: 81/1
At the end of over 15: 75/1
At the end of over 14: 72/1
At the end of over 13: 69/1
At the end of over 12: 65/1
At the end of over 11: 63/0
At the end of over 10: 61/0
At the end of over 9: 50/0
At the end of over 8: 44/0
At the end of over 7: 42/0
At the end of over 6: 28/0
At the end of over 5: 21/0
At the end of over 4: 13/0
At the end of over 3: 8/0
At the end of over 2: 3/0
At the end of over 1: 2/0
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Haris Sohail's maiden ODI hundred steered Pakistan to 280 for five in 50 overs against Australia in the first one-day International at Sharjah on Friday.
Haris remained not out on 101, he made off 115 balls with six fours and a six. He was ably supported by Umar Akmal (49) and debutant Shan Masood (40).
Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan set Australia a daunting target of 281 runs at a slow pitch of the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Friday.
After over 50: Pakistan 280/5
Haris Sohail completes his maiden ODI hundred
After over 49: Pakistan 267/5
After over 48: Pakistan 255/5
After over 47: Pakistan 249/5
After over 46: Pakistan 238/4
After over 45: Pakistan 225/4
After over 44: Pakistan 218/4
After over 43: Pakistan 214/4
After over 42: Pakistan 206/4
After over 41: Pakistan 199/4
After over 40: Pakistan 194/4
After over 39: Pakistan 190/4
After over 38: Pakistan 179/3
Umar Akmal c Finch b Coulter-Nile 49
After over 37: Pakistan 176/2
After over 36: Pakistan 171/2
After over 35: Pakistan 163/2
After over 34: Pakistan 160/2
After over 33: Pakistan 154/2
After over 32: Pakistan 150/2
After over 31: Pakistan 149/2
After over 30: Pakistan 146/2
After over 29: Pakistan 139/2
After over 28: Pakistan 133/2
After over 27: Pakistan 114/2
After over 26: Pakistan 110/2
After over 25: Pakistan 108/2
After over 24: Pakistan 105/2
After over 23: Pakistan 101/2
After over 22: Pakistan 93/2
After over 21: Pakistan 89/2
After over 20: Pakistan 86/2
After over 19: Pakistan 78/2
After over 18: Pakistan 74/1
After over 17: Pakistan 69/1
After over 16: Pakistan 67/1
After over 15: Pakistan 63/1
After over 14: Pakistan 55/1
After over 13: Pakistan 53/1
After over 12: Pakistan 50/1
After over 11: Pakistan 43/1
After over 10: Pakistan 40/1
After over 9: Pakistan 37/0
After over 8: Pakistan 33/0
After over 7: Pakistan 29/0
After over 6: Pakistan 28/0
After over 5: Pakistan 23/0
After over 4: Pakistan 10/0
After over 3: Pakistan 3/0
After over 2: Pakistan 2/0
After over 1: Pakistan 1/0
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Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first against Australia in their first One Day International in Sharjah on Friday.
With Pakistan having rested several senior players, Australia should be well-placed to continue the good work started in India when they clash in the first one-day international today.
Teams
Pakistan: Shan Masood, Imam-ul-Haq, Haris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik (captain), Faheem Ashraf, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Abbas
AustraliaI: Aaron Finch (captain), Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Shaun Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jhye Richardson, Nathan Lyon, Adam Zampa
Both teams observed a minute's silence for the tragedy that occurred in Christchurch, New Zealand, seven days ago.
Just a month ago, Australia were a dwindling force, with serious questions to answer ahead of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019. Defeat to India at home came after a string of disappointments in a format they are the reigning world champions in.
Then, they came to India when nobody gave them a chance and went 0-2 down. But they bounced back remarkably to win the next three games and clinch the series – their first series win in ODIs since January 2017. Now, they are once again a team to be wary of, having sent out a timely reminder of why they are five-time World Cup winners.
So much changed for Australia in that India series. Aaron Finch ended a run drought with his first fifty-plus score in ten innings. Usman Khawaja has laid serious claim to the opening slot for the first time since being recalled to the ODI side with two centuries and a 90 against India. With their return to form, Australia now suddenly seem to possess a potent top-order.
Glenn Maxwell, who has been in outstanding form lately, is now the lynchpin of the middle order. Peter Handscomb is starting to peak at the right juncture. Ashton Turner created huge impact in very short time, and played the innings of the series against India.
This is an era when wrist-spinners have a direct say in teams winning, and Australia have found theirs in Adam Zampa. There’s also Nathan Lyon, who has evolved into one of the world’s leading spinners, and Pat Cummins, who has become a workhorse, winning matches with bat and ball.
The only thing ailing Australia is a stomach bug that has hit the team since arriving in the UAE. It has already cast doubt over Maxwell’s participation in the first ODI. Lyon also missed training on Tuesday, although he may be good to go now and partner Zampa to form a two-pronged spin attack. Australia will also welcome the return of Nathan Coulter-Nile, who had missed the last three ODIs against India for the birth of his second child.
Pakistan might be No. 6 in the Tyres ICC ODI Team Rankings, but don’t let that fool you. They haven’t lost a series in the UAE since 2015, blanking West Indies and Sri Lanka, and holding a powerful New Zealand side to a 1-1 draw.
However, they are missing several key players for this series. Captain Sarfaraz Ahmed, top-order batsmen Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam, leg-spinner Shadab Khan, and fast bowlers Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi have all been rested. Mohammad Hafeez has also not been considered as he continues to recover from thumb surgery. Shoaib Malik will assume captaincy duties in Ahmed’s absence.
With so many big names out, it puts Umar Akmal in line for his first international for Pakistan since January 2017. Akmal, who was sent back from the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 after failing a fitness test, was recalled for this series. Pakistan have also included Test regulars Yasir Shah and Mohammad Abbas, uncapped 31-year-old Abid Ali, and Mohammad Hasnain, the 18-year-old right-arm medium-pacer, all of whom lend freshness to the squad.
Squads
Pakistan:Shoaib Malik (c), Mohammad Abbas, Umar Akmal, Abid Ali, Saad Ali, Mohammad Amir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Hasnain, Junaid Khan, Shan Masood, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Yasir Shah, Usman Shinwari, Haris Sohail, Imam ul-Haq, Imad Wasim
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Adam Zampa