Australia Beat Pakistan By 88 Runs After All Round Show In Lahore.

Australia took a one-nil lead in the three match ODI series against Pakistan after beating the hosts by 88 runs in the first ODI at Lahore.

Put to bat first Australia looked up for the game from the get go. Travis Head led the assault as the visitors as he smashed the bowlers left right and centre.

His captain Aaron Finch was reduced to a mere spectator as Head completed a quick fire half century. He continued to lay waste to Pakistan’s bowling which clearly struggled in absence of Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan.

Debutant bowler Zahid Mahmood got rid of Finch with the score 110 in 15 overs, Finch having made only 23 of those.

Travis Head looked in no mood to relent as he brought up his century of just 72 balls along with 3 sixes and 12 fours.

His dismissal by Iftikhar Ahmed however seemed to turn the game around for the hosts.

At 171/2 in 25 overs Australia looked set for a huge total, but that was not the case.

McDermott got a half-century but his run out in the 33rd over also dented the visitors. In the next ten overs, Australia managed just 40 runs and also lost Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey.

Cameroon Green and Sean Abbott managed to give some late impetus to the innings with the visitors scoring 50 in the final five overs to finish with 313/7 in 50 overs.

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In response Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman early for just 18 runs with 24 on board.

From there on Imam-ul-haq and Babar Azam revived hopes of a Pakistan chase with a solid stand.

Babar and Imam made 96 off 118, with Babar recording his 18th ODI fifty. However, debutant Mitchell Swepson ensured Babar was not only his maiden Test wicket but also became his maiden ODI wicket in the 25th over, with the hosts 120/2.

It was all downhill for Pakistan from here onwards. Imam occupied one end but had little support from the other end.

Pakistan collapsed to 166 for 5 from 120 for 1 between overs 25 and 34. Imam did bring up a defiant century scoring 103 off 96 balls but was dismissed ending any hopes a comeback.

They were left needing 104 off 60 and a double-wicket over from Zampa in the 42nd meant there was no late resurgence either.

At the end Pakistan were bundled out for a meek 225 runs in 50 overs, handing Australia a 1-0 lead in the series.

Brief scores: Australia 313/7 in 50 overs (Travis Head 101; Haris Rauf 2-44)

Pakistan 225 in 45.2 overs (Imam ul Haq 103; Adam Zampa 4-38).