Finch ton fires Aussies to eight-wicket win over Pak
Sharjah, March 23: Aaron Finch’s fine century drove Australia to a convincing eight-wicket win over a new-look Pakistan in the first one-day international on Saturday.
The Australian skipper scored 116 off 135 balls for his 12th one-day international century that helped his team overhaul the 281run target in 49 overs on a flat Sharjah stadium pitch.
The win gives Australia the lead in the five-match series and comes on the back of their 3-2 series win in India earlier this month.
“To be able to chase down the target for the loss of two wickets is nice. It’s nice to keep the momentum with a fourth win in a row,” Finch said.
Finch’s match-winning knock overshadowed Haris Sohail’s maiden oneday hundred (101 not out)
which helped Pakistan to 280-5 in their allotted 50 overs.
“We needed wickets at the top which did not come our way because Finch and Marsh handled the chase very well,” stand-in Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik said.
“Congrats to Haris for
getting a hundred but we did not push Australia hard,” he added.
The 32-year-old Australia smashed Malik for a huge six towards deep midwicket to complete his century – his first since June last year against England at Chester-Le-Street – off 120 balls.