Australia v Pakistan, 5th ODI – 5 Talking Points

Australia continued their domination against the Men in Green as the hosts won the 5th and the final ODI of the bilateral series to win the series 4-1. Batting first Australia rode on a scintillating 179 by David Warner and a supportive century by Travis Head to score a gigantic 369 in their 50 overs. Though the hosts looked set to score well over 400 but a late order collapse kept them under the magic figure.

Pakistan began well with Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam playing really well but they were unable to press on the accelerator and perished at crucial junctures of the game. The visitors were eventually bowled out for 312 in the 50th over to give Australia a comprehensive victory by 57 runs.

1. David Warner smashes a scintillating 179

Hard-hitting southpaw David Warner continued his dream run in international cricket and scored yet another ODI century against Pakistan to help Australia win the series by a 4-1 margin. He is surely a freakish talent and his record in the recent past proves every bit of it. The southpaw scored a magnificent century in the previous ODI as well but today’s innings was something very very special.

Warner shared a mammoth 284 runs partnership for the opening wicket with Travis Head who also scored a brilliant century. The swashbuckler began with a boundary of Junaid Khan in the 2nd over which was just the beginning of much more to come. There was no respite for the Pakistan bowlers as boundaries came thick and fast. While Head was playing the sheet anchor’s role, Warner was punishing the visitors with disdain.

He reached the elusive three-figure in the 26th over. After scoring his century he went on the rampage and started depositing the Pakistan to different corners of the Adelaide Oval. He struck 19 fours and 5 gigantic sixes during his breathtaking innings. He was eventually dismissed in the 42nd over by Junaid Khan but he had done the damage by then.

Also read: AUS v PAK, 5th ODI Review: David Warner and Travis Head lead Aussies to victory

2. Travis Head scores a supporting century

Warner’s opening partner Travis Head was sedated to start off and gave most of the strike to David Warner who was going great guns. The left-hander struck 3 boundaries in the first powerplay. He was quite in the middle overs where he allowed Warner to go hammers and tongs as he was hitting the ball really well. Head reached hiss half-century in the 27th over after Warner had reached his century. It took him 79 balls to reach his fifty.

Head unleashed a barrage of attacking shots in the later half of the innings as he reached his century in the 41st over. He struck some clean blows after the dismissal of Warner and eventually fell after scoring 128. His 137 balls innings was decorated with 9 fours and 3 hits over the fence.

3. Hasan Ali becomes the 2nd Pakistani to concede more than 100 runs in an ODI

It turned out to be a disastrous day for Hasan Ali who went on to become only the 2nd Pakistan bowler after Wahab Riaz to concede more than 100 runs in an ODI Match. Especially after taking 5 wickets in the previous match, it was a lacklustre performance by the youngster. He began by conceding 14 runs in his very first over as Warner smashed him for a hat-trick of boundaries.

The scenario never changed as Warner and Head both struck him some lusty blows. He wasn’t given his full quota but despite that, he conceded 100 runs from his 9 overs. It was a shoddy performance by all the Pakistan bowlers especially Hasan Ali.

4. Babar Azam century goes in vain

Chasing a gigantic 370 to win, Pakistan began pretty well with opener Sharjeel Khan looking in good touch. Babar Azam joined the southpaw after the dismissal of Azhar Ali in only the 3rd over and the duo stitched together a crucial partnership of 130 runs for the 2nd wicket. While Sharjeel was the aggressor in the partnership, Babar decided to play 2nd fiddle. His first boundary came after playing 28 balls but he looked pretty solid in the middle. After hitting a boundary he added another in the very next delivery.

He kept going and rotated the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking along. On the other hand, Sharjeel struck some lusty blows and after the century partnership was put up, Pakistan fans would have harboured an outside chance of winning the match. Babar played some delightful drives and his step out six of Pat Cummins over the mid-on region was the shot of his innings. He was dismissed by Josh Hazlewood immediately after reaching a century. His 109 balls innings contained 7 fours and a solitary hit over the fence.

Also read: Twitter Reactions: Australia ride on twin centuries by Warner and Head

5. Mitchell Starc’s 4/42 derail Pakistan’s progress

Left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc has been a revelation for Australia and put up yet another inspired performance in the 3rd and final ODI against Pakistan. He did justice to his reputation by bagging 4 wickets in 9.1 overs. His first wicket came in the 3rd over when he dismissed Azhar Ali with a beautiful inswinger. Ali missed it altogether and didn’t bother to review.

He broke the partnership between Babar Azam and Sharjeel Khan as he bounced out the left-hander with a brilliant short delivery. The left-hander attempted a pull but could only top edge it straight to the wicket-keeper.

He then dismissed Mohammad Hafeez with a beautiful away swinger which took the outside edge of his bat and was caught safely in the slip cordon. He added one more to his kitty in the later part of the innings by dismissing Wahab Riaz with a brilliant Yorker.