Explosive Warner blows away Pakistan, Aussies win series 4-1
ADELAIDE: Career-best centuries by David Warner and Travis Head in an explosive opening partnership of 284 launched Australia to a 57-run win over Pakistan in the fifth and final one-day international on Thursday. Australia won the series 4-1.
The match also brought a merciless end to a woeful tour by Pakistan, which won just the one ODI and lost the test series 3-0.
Warner’s abundant summer of runs continued with 179 in a record stand with maiden century-maker Head, who hit 128 to propel the home team to 369-7 after captain Steve Smith won his fifth successive toss in the series and opted to bat on Australia Day.
Pakistan always lagged behind in the run-chase, and was bowled out for 312 in 49.1 overs despite Babar Azam (100) and opening batsman Sharjeel Khan’s (79) century partnership for the second wicket. Umar Akmal’s late onslaught of 46 off 40 balls couldn’t challenge Australia’s dominant bowling, led by Mitchell Starc, who finished with 4-42 and also plucked a smart two-handed low catch at third man.
Shoaib Malik retired hurt on 10, when his left arm was hit by a delivery from Pat Cummins.
“We’ve played some pretty good cricket over the last couple of games,” Smith said.
“Davey has been absolutely outstanding, and I thought Travis Head played very well to get his first ODI hundred.”
Sharjeel scored his third halfcentury in a row, but his 130-run stand with Azam was broken when Sharjeel mistimed a pull shot off Starc. Starc’s next over snared Mohammad Hafeez off an edge. Azam made a fighting century but never looked to threaten Australia’s imposing total before he got a leading edge while attempting to smash Josh Hazlewood over midwicket.
“Today, again, it was a very tough total to chase. Credit goes to Australia, especially David Warner and Travis Head,” Pakistan captain Azhar Ali said.
“Tosses didn’t go our way either, but it’s part of the game, you can’t really practice that ... tough teams don’t care whether they win the toss.”