David Warner scored a century as Australia beat Pakistan by 86 runs in Sydney to clinch a series win
Here’s the report from the SCG. Thanks for your company!
Related: David Warner century clinches series win for Australia against Pakistan
So an anti-climactic ending, but the excitement all came earlier during the Australian innings, and also through the first half of Pakistan’s reply. It started with David Warner’s 12th ODI century (only Gilchrist, Mark Waugh and Ponting have more, and they each played far more games than Warner’s 92 to date).He reached his 50 from 35 balls, and ended with 130 from 119. Sniffer Smith made 49 in even time, then Maxwell and Head tore the game apart: 78 from 44, and 51 from 36, respectively.
Hasan Ali took 5 for 52, even though only six wickets fell as Australia racked up 353. Hasan also dropped a couple of catches, and too many to count went down among his teammates, as well as misfields, overthrows, the works. Mohammad Amir was particularly hard done by, and there must be days when he wonders why he made the effort to come back to international cricket at all.
Pakistan bowled out for 267 in 43.5 overs.
Game over. Juanid nowhere near the full ball, and it knocks down his stumps for a golden duck. Hazlewood ends with 3 for 54 from 8.5.
Nine down. Imad tries that Wandering Albatross routine again, way outside off and ramping, but instead of hitting it straight to short fine he runs it off the face to the keeper. Weird way to get out, but after two drops in two balls earlier in the day, Josh Hazlewood will take it.
43rd over: Pakistan 262-8 (Imad 25, Hasan 3)
Is that another missed stumping? Pretty sure Wade could have had Hasan Ali from the first ball of Zampa’s last over. I can’t even tell any more, I count Matthew Wade missed stumpings at night to go to sleep. I see them in distant shadows on train stations late at night, I hear them in rustling leaves of trees. Hasan took five wickets and missed about a hundred catches himself today, but he gets a run down the ground. Imad clumps on, reverse-sweeping a boundary that neary gets caught at backward point, then flicking a couple of runs to leg, then trading singles with Hasan. Zampa finishes with 3 for 55 from his 10.
42nd over: Pakistan 253-7 (Imad 18, Hasan 1)
Aside from the boundary and the wicket (ho-hum), the best part of that over was the first ball, where Imad walked a metre outside his off stump to try a kind of angled ramp shot, hit it straight to short fine leg, then somehow ran a single. Loose cricket.
@GeoffLemonSport 123m better acronym than STTM?
Short and sweet for Amir, who cracks four through point so nicely that it beats the backward sweeper. Then Amir tries again and edges behind.
41st over: Pakistan 247-7 (Imad 17, Amir 1)
A couple of singles after the dismissal, and Pakistan is still 107 short with nine overs to play.
I feel bad using the exclamation mark there, it wasn’t much to write home about. Rizwan should feel bad for using the DRS review. He’s not all that as a batsman. Good ball though, sliding through flat from Zampa after he’s tossed a couple up. Rizwan was only on strike thanks to an overthrow that gave him a second run the ball before. This one has him going back, zips through him, and hammers in back leg in front of middle. Leave the review for Amir, he’s shown he can get a few shots away.
40th over: Pakistan 242-6 (Rizwan 8, Imad 15)
Imad, bro? It’s the meme version of a Robert Graves novel. The left-arm spinner is also a handy left-handed batsman, and he’s able to pull Cummins’ slow bouncer away fine for four. Then slaps two over mid off, that ball hung in the air. Then along the ground through cover for one, gets the strike back from Rizwan, and gets four with a simple push and a triple misfield. Pushes the ball away behind point, wants a run, Rizwan has come down, then hurries back, the throw misses, midwicket can’t back it up, and Head at long-on slides across to parry it into the rope. Welcome to Slop City.
39th over: Pakistan 229-6 (Rizwan 7, Imad 3)
Sniffer Smith keen to wrap this game up early, he’s got Starc and Hazlewood in tandem. Starc attacking the stumps in this over, but he can’t break through. Three singles from the over. Death, where is thy sting? It surely has gone out of this match.
38th over: Pakistan 226-6 (Rizwan 6, Imad 1)
Two new batsmen at the crease, really only a matter of a Happy Hour slogfest or a free net session here. What would you do? Hazlewood is bowling consistently outside off now looking for edges, so Imad slaps one to point, Rizwan does the same for two, and then he finishes off the over by doing it four four. I wonder if they can keep up this rate of incremental increase? Next scoring shot will 8, then 16, then 32 - they could win this in five balls.
37th over: Pakistan 219-6 (Rizwan 0, Imad 0)
It hasn’t been Starc’s greatest day, and a couple of wides in that over wouldn’t have made him feel any better, but he gets a wicket to polish up his figures, and the only other score from the over is a leg bye. Go, Xavier Tras.
Australia are heading to India next month. Monty Panesar, the former England spinner, is trying to help them win there. Will Macpherson had a chat with him.
Related: Monty Panesar: 'I just want to play for England again, I’ve got to do it'
There’s the ball game. An Akmal T20-style special was the only chance Pakistan had from here, but in the end he soaked up a bunch of dot balls and is out playing a hook shot to a ball too far outside off, angled across him from Starc. Cummins at short fine leg settles under the high ball and cups it in front of his eyes.
36th over: Pakistan 216-5 (Akmal 11, Rizwan 0)
With one ball to come after the wicket, and a single form it, Travis Head finishes his 10 overs with figures of 2 for 66. Which will do just find in a 350 chase. 138 needed from 84 balls.
Malik’s uncomfortable stay ends. First he thumps Head for a straight six - didn’t time it perfectly, it went very high and hung for a while but just carried. Maxwell was at long-on, and timed a high-jumper’s backward leap over the rope, and nearly got a hand to it in a desperate attempt to flick it back in, and that would have been one of the greatest saves of all time if it had been possible. It wasn’t. Next ball, Malik decides to ride his luck with a muscular sweep, but Warner tracks around from midwicket. In the end he almost comes too far around, and has to dart back to his right to take the ball, the catcher almost airborne and the ball just above the turf. Terrific catch. Malik contributed, but a strike rate of 77 was just that bit too slow in such a big chase.
35th over: Pakistan 206-4 (Malik 41, Akmal 9)
Dropped catch! Um, and then another one. Australia feeling bad at the unfair advantage they got through Pakistan’s fielding have resolved to give a couple back. Both to Malik, against Hazlewood, in the space of two balls. First Malik tries a pull shot that lobs off a weak top edge, but Khawaja at midwicket flails in the air over his head as it drops behind him. I’m not sure that even touched that. They get a couple of runs, then Malik doubles down, a big slog down the ground, and as earlier today it’s Travis Head sprinting in and diving forward. This time he does get hands to it, and does stop the boundary, but lets the ball spill out. The over ends up going for five, and Hazlewood is not a bowler in luck.
34th over: Pakistan 201-4 (Malik 38, Akmal 8)
Single, single, single, then Wade botches a run out. Akmal gets down low and sweeps Head with the paddle variety to fine leg. Starc makes ground fast. The batsmen turn for a third, Starc throws in a deadly flat fast return. On the direct hit it would have Malik cold, but it just misses from the boundary. Wade is behind the stumps to take the ball. Even then he would have had time to knock off the bails, but the ball escapes his hands and bobbles around up on top of his wrists. He’s trying to get it into his gloves, and eventually gives up and punches the stumps with the ball on his arms. Which I’m pretty sure means any run out wouldn’t count anyway, as the fieldsman has to have the ball in hand.
33rd over: Pakistan 195-4 (Malik 36, Akmal 4)
What an over from Hazlewood. Sure, Malik smeared a couple into midwicket from one ball, but it was the shot of a man with no idea. Hazlewood is hanging back of a length, right on off stump, generating bounce and bowling with pace. It’s hard to lay bat on him. Malik is beaten again, then finally glides an STTM. Umar Akmal drives and is done in completely, the ball missing his inside edge by a fraction, his off stump be another fraction. Deserved to be clean bowled, but he’s still there.
32nd over: Pakistan 191-4 (Malik 33, Akmal 4)
That’s more like it for Pakistan. If they’d been able to take six singles from the last Zampa over, they might still have Hafeez with them. Malik and Akmal do it well, driving with the spin into the off side for each of the runs, ticking the numbers off. That required rate though is up at nine per over now.
Here’s a pair of Australian men, Adam Zampa and Steve Smith, looking very happy after the former dismissed Sharjeel Khan for 74.
31st over: Pakistan 185-4 (Malik 30, Akmal 1)
Hazlewood back immediately to try and put some pressure on Umar Akmal. Get him and it really is game over. Akmal starts sensibly, facing out four balls of that over either side of two singles with a straight bat.
30th over: Pakistan 183-4 (Malik 29)
You could feel it in your waters. Another wicket from the last ball of an over, and it was the preceding five that brought about the fall. Steve Smith had swung Zampa around to the other end for this spell so that the long side of the ground was also the leg side for these two right-handers. Clever. So was Zampa’s bowling, backed up by sharp infielding. Malik’s dot balls mounted up, and with two singles from that over so far, Hafeez felt obliged to try something when he got back on strike for the last ball. Went for the slog sweep again, but this time he couldn’t go the distance beyond deep midwicket.
29th over: Pakistan 181-3 (Hafeez 39, Malik 28)
Malik stil struggling against Cummins. Three balls to find a single this time, can’t find room when Cummins has a good line at his body. He forces a run into the covers, Hafeez gets an STTM, Cummins gets a bit too straight and Malik picks off two to fine leg.
28th over: Pakistan 177-3 (Hafeez 38, Malik 25)
Adam Zampa, coming back into this contest well. Nearly draws the top edge from Hafeez on the cut. Two singles from the over. Pakistan can’t afford these. They need to stay well ahead of the rate. They have reached the halfway mark of this chase though, with not much more than half the overs gone, and seven wickets still in hand.
27th over: Pakistan 175-3 (Hafeez 37, Malik 24)
The low-scoring pressure starts to tell very quickly in a game like this. Malik did get off strike against Cummins first ball, tugging it around the corner as the line wasn’t quite right, but he’s nearly run out from the next, as Hafeez plays to point and Malik comes too far down and is struggling to get back. Maxwell missed, but the batsman would just have been home. Just. They mount a comeback, in this intra-over battle. Hafeez with the STTM. Malik drags a couple to the leg side. Ducks under a bouncer next, but Cummins messes up the end of the over, too much width on the short ball, and Malik cracksfour through point to ease the pressure. The 27th over has never been so tense.
26th over: Pakistan 167-3 (Hafeez 36, Malik 17)
Zampa turns the screws. Malik again. They can’t afford this, he was finding the singles with ease early on and how he’s blocked up. Two from the over, Malik 17 off 30 when they need nearly 8 an over.
25th over: Pakistan 165-3 (Hafeez 35, Malik 16)
Malik struggling with Cummins. You can bet the Aussies will have taken note of that. It takes Malik three balls to get off strike, using the classic STTM, then Hafeez immediately gives it back and Malik faces two more dots. Two runs from the over. Every six balls seems to change the complexion of this chase.
24th over: Pakistan 163-3 (Hafeez 34, Malik 15)
Head continues, he’s bowled eight of his overs on the trot now. Glenn Maxwell hasn’t been used at all this series with the ball, Head is the preferred part-time spinner for the moment. The Pakistan pair are working the singles well now, all to the leg side: long on, fine leg, midwicket. Then to the last ball Hafeez decides to go off side, and tries clearing mid off. Just makes it. Dicey shot, but he gets the four runs. Nine from the over, another good one for the chasers. Australia was 133-1 at this point.
23rd over: Pakistan 154-3 (Hafeez 28, Malik 12)
There’s the difference - Starc is slashed through cover by Hafeez for four. Sometimes the more dangerous fast bowler can have more runs taken from them, I’m guessing because the batsman has less time to think and is on higher alert. Instinctive shots come out, while spinners can leave too much time to think, too many options. Three singles, seven from the over, Pakistan need an even 200 from 162 balls.
22nd over: Pakistan 147-3 (Hafeez 23, Malik 10)
Another quiet over from the green and gold’s Head Boy. He’s one of those deceptive bowlers, in that he doesn’t look like he’s doing anything but teams find it hard to score off him. Either that or they’re just being very careful when he’s on. Three singles.
21st over: Pakistan 144-3 (Hafeez 22, Malik 8)
Starc returns, Smith looking for a wicket. The strike bowler has overs to spare, he was dragged after his first three went for 24 runs. His first ball back goes for runs too, full and perfectly driven by Hafeez straight. The chasers think they’ll get there but the outfield is very accommodating to the batting side today, and that ball just skates on over the rope with a giggle and a skip. A couple of singles on top, and that makes it another decent over for Pakistan.
20th over: Pakistan 138-3 (Hafeez 17, Malik 7)
Malik is a good player to milk this singles, if you’ve got someone going harder at the other end. Hafeez is happy to be that guy, reaching for a very wide ball from Head and lifting it over backward point. Looked dicey, thought it was a chance for a second there, btu it floated over the potential catcher. Three runs down to deep backward, six from the over. Head is going at 6.66 an over, Zampa at 7.50.
19th over: Pakistan 132-3 (Hafeez 13, Malik 5)
The answer? Hit sixes. Hafeez does to Zampa what Sharjeel could not, slog-sweeping him cleanly into the crowd. The difference? Sharjeel was going to the long side of the ground as a left-hander, Hafeez has the short. Also Zampa’s ball to Sharjeel reached him very full, and Hafeez has a bit more room to get under this. Great timing. Three singles from the over as well.
18th over: Pakistan 123-3 (Hafeez 6, Malik 3)
A moment for a breather, three singles from Head’s over as Hafeez and Malik work out what to do next.
17th over: Pakistan 120-3 (Hafeez 5, Malik 1)
Malik is off the mark first ball, the last of the over, pushing Zampa through point. He’s batted well this series, Shoaib Malik, but a massive job ahead. Another 234 runs from 33 overs, which requires going at 7 per over from here. That’s where Pakistan is, thanks to Sharjeel, but this pair will have to maintain at least five to six through the middle overs to give themselves any chance at the end. Or is it better to keep attacking now, and make the end easier?
Not long enough, is the answer. Zampa bowls a few balls for singles, Sharjeel goes for the slog sweep, and doesn’t quite time it. More toe of the bat than blade. Even then, his immense power is enough to have that ball nearly carry the rope down at cow corner, but he wanted it to go squarer, and David Warner is fast enough to get around into position and take the catch just inside the rope.
16th over: Pakistan 116-2 (Sharjeel 73, Hafeez 3)
SIX! That is absolutely massive! How do I do this without exclamation marks! Head drops a bit short, Sharjeel lands that ball in the top of the SCG grandstand with the pull shot. Wowsers. Then Head turns the ball across him, Sharjeel drives, and edges four. Twice in a row. Then the off-strike nudge again, and Hafeez punches another single. 17 from the over, how long can Sharjeel keep this up?
15th over: Pakistan 99-2 (Sharjeel 58, Hafeez 1)
Well, someone had to match the Australians, and here’s one of those fast fifties at least. Sharjeel might need to match all three though, given the relative lack of hitters below. He drives Zampa for a single first ball of the over to reach the milestone, gets stike back as Hafeez gets off the mark to the off-side, then sagely watches a wide pass by his pad, before launching into a pull shot. The timing is accidentally perfect, landing just in front of Head diving forward to try to take the catch at deep midwicket, but the ball bounces in front and scoots through. Next ball, the perfect placement is entirely deliberate, as Sharjeel drives perfectly through the cover field and splits the two fielders for four more! Then the sensible single.
14th over: Pakistan 88-2 (Sharjeel 49)
A classic bit of inexperience, I’m afraid. Sharjeel is going beautifully, and charges to thump Head way into the crowd over long on. Then sensibly gets the single. But Babar gets over-excited and tries to match his batting partner. He also charges, but drags across the line of the ball at the last second, rather than hitting straighter, and can can only pull the drive wider to long on where the catcher awaits.
13th over: Pakistan 81-1 (Sharjeel 42, Babar 31)
Adam Zampa is finally into the side, and into the attack, the leg-spinner who was among Australia’s leading ODI wicket-takers here. Babar is off strike easily, but the left-hander Sharjeel is beaten by his first ball, and is sufficiently chastened to treat the next two with respect. That’s as long as he’ll wait, because Zampa drops short and Sharjeel is able to swat that ball away through square leg for another four. Then taps a single to cover from the last of the over.
12th over: Pakistan 75-1 (Sharjeel 37, Babar 30)
Another nondescript over of Head off-spin, this one handled better by the batsmen who milk five singles from it.
11th over: Pakistan 70-1 (Sharjeel 35, Babar 27)
Suddenly the clamps have been applied. A combination of Cummins’ short bowling with an improved line plus some good Australian ground fielding, keep Pakistan to two singles this over, the second of them precariously from Babar’s top edge to a gap at midwicket.
10th over: Pakistan 68-1 (Sharjeel 34, Babar 26)
Travis Head on very early for some off-spin, and he starts well, only two singles from the first two balls, both tapped into the midwicket gap.
9th over: Pakistan 66-1 (Sharjeel 33, Babar 25)
What. A. Shot. I’m posting the video below because you have to see that. The perfect cut shot from Babar Azam; Cummins gave width and plenty of speed, and Babar made use of both, whipping his wrists almost from underneath that ball, and timing the spanking of it so supremely that it was at the boundary before you could blink. That is so clean. It’s the third ball of the over, and so forces Cummins to push forward his previously short length. Babar takes advantage by driving three through midwicket. This is an artful knock. Australia was 59-0 at this point.
Babar looks in great touch out there #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/Fy1QoJzKGl
8th over: Pakistan 59-1 (Sharjeel 33, Babar 18)
Shawwwwwt. Babar Azam is like a plastic surgeon - he knows that patience will deliver reward. Defends Hazlewood, is beaten, leaves... then gets one full enough, and drives it sumptuously down the ground for four. Holds the pose until the ball hits the fence, and fair enough too for that shot. Sharjeel is less pretty, equally effective: there’s no slip, and Sharjeel’s drive maybe wasn’t supposed to quite that fine, but certainly behind point, and he enough of an edge for another four. Hazlewood doesn’t know what to do. He’s gone for 32 runs in his full 10 overs in the last two games; today he’s gone for 32 in his first four.
7th over: Pakistan 50-1 (Sharjeel 29, Babar 13)
Time for Pat Cummins to get involved. Blue-eyed, wind in his hair, he looks like he should be sweeping Irish girls off their feet in some mediaeval cinema epic. Babar deals with him competently enough, just running the single to third man again. Suspect that whoever fields down there will get a work-out today. Sharjeel pulls out the flip again, but they have a man back for him now, and it’s only worth a run this time. Babar goes to third man again. Can I have an acronym? STTM? The fifty is up.
6th over: Pakistan 47-1 (Sharjeel 28, Babar 11)
Thunk! That one goes for six, first ball of the Hazlehoff over, and he gets very full to Sharjeel. Thanks, says the counterslasher, and drives woodily over long-on and over the rope. Hazlewood pulls the length back, and Sharjeel cuts two runs, running hard to get back. He’s doing this well. Now Josh is mad. He cranks up the pace, real effort ball, much shorter and angle across from the right-arm over position. Sharjeel tries to flay it away over gully but it’s too good for him, it zips through to the keeper without the bat getting anywhere near it. That was a top comeback. But Sharjeel is able to run a single to third man next ball, so the pressure doesn’t build. Then Babar gives him the strike back with a leg glance, and Sharjeel caps off the over with a beauty. Across his stumps, gets a ball on his hip, and though it’s not super short he’s able to play that flip-pull that lifts the ball over short fine leg and away for four more. I don’t like using exclamation marks but I nearly went for two in one post there. Disgusting. 14 off a Hazlewood over can make a man do strange things.
5th over: Pakistan 33-1 (Sharjeel 15, Babar 10)
Whooshka! Up and over second slip as Babar flings the bat at Starc outside off. There were seven lords a-leaping in that slip cordon, but none of them could climb the mime’s stepladder and get the elevation required. Instead, they crashed into each other: more a case of ‘excuse my while I kiss this guy’ than ‘kiss the sky’. Babar plays a single to third man, this time deliberately, and Starc mixes up his lines as the batting combo switches over, plunging a ball down Sharjeel’s leg side. Sharjeel keeps strike with a pull for one.
4th over: Pakistan 26-1 (Sharjeel 14, Babar 5)
Width from Hazlewood, a full length as well, and Babar takes up the opportunity to cover-drive his first ball for four. He made 84 in his last outing, in the process equalling the record for the fastest to 1000 ODI runs in terms of innings batted. And made more in those 21 innings than all but Sir Viv. Forgive me posting my own stuff, but here’s one I prepared earlier.
Most runs in first 21 ODI innings:
de Kock - 1001
Pietersen - 1005
Trott - 1028
BABAR AZAM - 1037
Richards - 1059#AusvPak
3rd over: Pakistan 21-1 (Sharjeel 14, Babar 0)
You have to love Sharjeel’s commitment to the eradication of subtlety. Starc pitches up, a bit of wobble in the air, and Sharjeel indicates that he does not care by smacking it over cover for four. Left-arm over to left-hand-all-over-the-park, Sharjeel having just pulled a couple through midwicket. He misses out on the full toss from the last ball, though to be fair Starc does get a lot of wickets when his full toss swings through defences and into the stumps at 150 clicks.
2nd over: Pakistan 15-1 (Sharjeel 8)
Things are always likely to slow down with the introduction of Josh Hazlewood, who hands out runs like a mean uncle hands out lollies. He gives away one loose ball, on the pads that Azhar punishes for four through square leg, but then Australia’s King of Parsimony pins Azhar to the crease for the next few balls, a hint of swing in the air as well, and eventually pushes the last ball of the over full enough to invite the drive, and end in the hands of Smith coming across the front of first slip.
1st over: Pakistan 11-0 (Azhar 3, Sharjeel 8)
Well, let’s get on with it. Lucky for Pakistan they have Azhar Ali back, he’ll be essential for holding things together if there’s to be any chance of a chase. And Sharjeel will need to provide a special. They get the right start, despite a good first three balls from Starc, full and swinging. The fourth ball, Azhar times well on the up, driving three runs through cover. Sharjeel gets a fast full toss outside his off stump, and nicks it fine enough to beat the diving third man. Then he clumps a full ball down through long off for another four.
I know it’s been said but... how about that fielding? It was actually the worst I’ve ever seen, for sheer consistency of ineptitude. It’s not like Pakistan doesn’t train a lot on catching and ground fielding - Mickey Arthur has said before that they’re constantly aware of the mistakes on the field, and work with great focus to improve it. So is it just psychological? They get into a match situation and suddenly it all falls apart?
Meantime, Warner made 50 off 35 balls, Head 50 off 35, and Maxwell 50 off 34. Outrageous combo. Glorious that Adam Collins and myself should be sharing the OBO for the Maxwell show though, two of the least abashed fans around. Straya added 118 runs from the last 10 overs. What?
Thank you, Adam - yes indeed, Geoff Lemon here for what will undoubtedly be a thrilling and historic victory for the Pakistan side. So many times in years to come they will say, where were you when... and you will say, I was somewhere boring but I was reading along on the OBO. And all will be agog to hear your tale. All that and more coming your way very, very soon, as the action is about to restart.
They couldn’t have planned that much better. Coming into the day, Warner was the one Australian player out of runs somewhere. The response? A wonderful hundred. He looked the man most nicely from the moment he came to the crease, routinely crashing the Pakistan seamers past point with ease.
Smith’s 49 was brisk and forceful alongside his vice-captain before they fell in the same over, but the damage was done for the Pakistan side. Not helped by constant dropped catches, basic misfields and a general sense of disarray.
Maxwell holes out to the final ball of the innings, but not before taking 14 from it. It included yet more embarrassment for Pakistan, through Shoaib’s legs at mid-on, four scored to Maxwell. Next ball, yet another one made into two - and why wouldn’t they take on the field every time now? Maxwell realising fine leg is up, he turns a ball from middle stump around the corner for four more. This is really ugly. And uglier: the 350 up when Maxwell makes room to dig a yorker right back over Hasan’s head. He’s liked that too.
Wade doesn’t get enough of Hasan, it taken relatively easily at long-on by Imad. Given the dropped catches off Imad when he was at the bowling crease - two by the man he just secured a wicket for then - I’m sure a word will be had in the huddle. I hope so.
49th over: Australia 339-4 (Maxwell 64, Wade 5). After failing to find the rope in the 48th, Maxwell does on the second ball of the 49th when accessing a ball from off-stump to take it behind square. Such skill. Next u: the captain misfields at mid-off, as if foretold. The Pakistan bowlers have been dealt some terrible cards today by those around them. To the fifth ball Maxwell somehow grabs a yorker well outside off-stump to the point boundary after moving himself away to outside leg. How did he reach that, let alone middle it? What a guy. To end the over, with mid-off still up, the Big Show smashes past him with his hardest hit shot yet. 15 from it. 350 still very much on here.
48th over: Australia 324-4 (Maxwell 50, Wade 4). Hasan, maligned when in the field but magnificent with the ball, prevents more than a single to be taken across the first four balls of his over. Maxwell digs out a yorker over cover - as he does - for a couple, before another two to end the over down the ground after a misfield gets Maxwell a half-century! 34 balls. Much like Head, he really did his job here in the final 15 after those two quick wickets.
47th over: Australia 316-4 (Maxwell 44, Wade 2). Rapid running between Wade and Maxwell gets two after the dismissal of Head. 1/75 the final figures for Amir.
Handscomb playing as a specialist backup wicket-keeper. #AUSvPAK
The ball after Head reached his 50 with an imposing six - his forth over midwicket, walking at the bowler Amir before delivery - he’s caught in the deep. Didn’t get enough of that second attempt, the bowler doing well to follow him as Head tried to make room for himself. After a slow start it was the perfect hand for the match conditions, from only 36 balls as well.
46th over: Australia 303-3 (Head 41, Maxwell 43). Travis Head gives Junaid a might whack, as high as it is long, over the rope all the same just in front of the O’Reilly Stand that he’s targeted a couple of times already. Six scored. More overthrows later in the over due to a terrible throw from Hasan. He’s been both the best of the bowlers and the worst of the fielders. The 300 up in the process.
Robert Wilson has written in, and I’m grateful for it.
45th over: Australia 290-3 (Head 31, Maxwell 40). Destined to be a busy last five overs with these two having their eye in. Evidenced by the first ball where Maxwell adjusts his stance to slap a line-drive over Amir’s head. Head - given the chance last over - skies another, but this time it falls safely. That’s the way it goes. Mid-off brought up, Maxwell immediately targets it. It isn’t the most clearly struck of strokes, but beats Azhar diving to his left. Given the way Pakistan have fielded today, it is little surprise when Maxwell and Head take on the sweeper Sharjeel for two, doing it easy. Oh and they do it again to the last ball, this time third man (Hasan) the culprit in allowing one to become two. Amir is fuming. Fair enough too. 14 taken from the over as Australia near 300.
44th over: Australia 276-3 (Head 30, Maxwell 28). Junaid is another who has done plenty right today without his numbers necessarily reflecting it. This over won’t help, a slower ball helped over the rope by Head! He hits the ball better than most over midwicket, a product of the new-school no doubt. Earlier in the over he did give what could be called a return catch to Junaid from a low full-toss, but in reality by getting a hand on the bowler saved three. To end the over? Another dropped catch. That’s a shocker at long on. Not the worst we’ve even seen today, mind. Head survives. Such a mess.
Almost comical - the fielding today! Another drop by sharjeel..
43rd over: Australia 266-3 (Head 21, Maxwell 27). Amir back. He’s not going a lot wrong early, but sure enough there’s an overthrow. But that’s a legit opportunity, a direct hit would have left Head a metre short or more. A full toss on Head’s hip though? He isn’t missing that. Four rather than six, though. Warner on the TV commentary with Mark Taylor asked about four times in a row how many he would like / how many he thinks they will get. 330, if you were wondering. Eight from this one.
Pakistan's spinners today
20-0-138-0
Ouch#AUSvPAK
42nd over: Australia 258-3 (Head 15, Maxwell 26). Hafeez back for a third spell. While Maxwell misses a full toss, Head doesn’t miss a slog sweep, popping him into the O’Reilly Stand to end an over worth 12. A long way back, too.
41st over: Australia 246-3 (Head 7, Maxwell 22). Just as I was about to say something nice about Imad - who has been unlucky and persistent today - he gives Maxwell a half volley with the penultimate ball to smash over his head, then a full toss reversed away with ease. All of a sudden, 11 from it for the hosts.
Maxi is having some fun! Get to a TV @wwos or jump on the live stream because you don't want to miss this: https://t.co/ruoOy2TOGs#AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/MNrXccaNDb
40th over: Australia 235-3 (Head 5, Maxwell 13). Some brief hope for Pakistan that they may have nabbed Maxwell with a direct hit via Azhar, but not to be. Only four singles from Junaid’s first over back into the attack though. Ten to go, but dreams of a redonkulous Australian score probably gone. Then again, Maxwell.
39th over: Australia 231-3 (Head 3, Maxwell 11). Oh Big Show! He’s into position shifting into the left-handed stance before Imad has even let the ball go there; the first of the over. And it’s hit so sweetly that it nearly lands in the Ladies Stand. And sure enough Hasan has dropped him later in the over, a top edge that he had no idea about running back at short-fine. It wasn’t the easiest chance running with the flight, but it won’t make Imad feel any better, the second chance he’s had put down off the man he is bowling in tandem with.
Ok Maxi #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/fO5lGxbTjE
38th over: Australia 220-1 (Head 2, Maxwell 1). What did I say a couple of overs ago? Pakistan’s chance. The best way to ruin that? Four overthrows. Shoaib Malik watching on, not backing up. Umar Akmal, throwing to the non-strikers end for no obvious reason to begin with. Far from the bowler Hasan’s fault, who has been brilliant in both of his spells today. This is actually a maiden as far as he is concerned, the overthrows after a leg-bye. A maiden in the 38th over after the afternoon they have had? Yeah, impressive. The highlight: beating Head all ends up with the penultimate ball.
37th over: Australia 215-1 (Head 2, Maxwell 1). Imad has done his job here, keeping the new pair to a couple of singles in the over. But to be fair, both of these guys can go particularly big at the death, so they won’t mind taking a couple of others to get in first.
OUT! Warner's magnificent knock comes to an end on 130, Australia 2-212. Hasan the bowler. Standing ovation for the Aussie opener #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/jxLngJeohS
36th over: Australia 213-3 (Head 1, Maxwell 0). Not the circumstances these two would have imagined when watching on a couple of minutes ago. We know from T20 cricket in particular how quickly a limited overs game can change course. Pakistan have their opening right now. it has taken the better part of three hours, but it’ll be what happens over the next period that’ll dictate if they are any chance after dark. Meanwhile, Mark Taylor has just described Glenn Maxwell as “a bit of an X factor.” Drink. Drink. Drink.
It is hitting in line with enough of the ball collecting the top of middle and leg to confirm the decision, Smith gone a run short of a half-century. Well, two wickets in an over. How about that? Hasan had to redeem himself after that dropped catch, and he’s certainly done so removing both of Australia’s leaders in the space of three balls.
WICKET?! Review! Is Smith LBW? Has Hasan got two in an over? The captain wants to check it out upstairs. We wait.
Was always going to happen after talking up the double ton, wasn’t it? After flicking Hasan through backward square to begin the over, all looked in good order. But then throwing one out wide, the Australian century-maker reached out wide without the footwork required to make proper contact, cue-ending it through to Rizwan. He smiles when departing, both probably in frustration about the demise, but also satisfaction at a job very nicely done indeed.
35th over: Australia 208-1 (Warner 126, Smith 49). Imad to keep going. Maybe he wishes he wasn’t, Warner smashing him with a flat slog into the Churchill Stand. Can’t do much about that; dominant batting. Dare I say it, but he has a double ton on the shelf here if all goes to plan. Australia’s 200 came up with the whack as well. Six other runs taken around the field, for 12 all told from the over.
34th over: Australia 196-1 (Warner 118, Smith 45). Channel Nine’s over begins by showing a group of people in formal wear holding signs with Married at First Sight to plug their new show. I can’t work out what is more demeaning: the show itself, or using that method to promote it? What just Ian Chappell think. Probably used to it by now, to be fair. Anyway, cricket. Hasan, after that howler at mid-off last over, is back into the attack. Injured earlier, but unclear what’s wrong with him. He did bowl beautifully earlier on, claiming Khawaja’s wicket along the way - the only Pakistan have taken. Only five from this over, so a perfectly adequate return to the attack. Useful slower ball to Warner ends it, but Warner’s edge doesn’t go to hand.
+ = ❤️#9Married | JANUARY 30 pic.twitter.com/jB8JbS9NSd
33rd over: Australia 191-1 (Warner 115, Smith 43). That’s just so poor. DROPPED by Hasan (who is back on, evidently) at mid-off. The most staightforward chance off Warner. It tailed away from him slightly in the air, but still - this is international cricket. Imad the man who misses out on the wicket, and worse still, has to keep bowling to Warner. Singles come from each of the four balls that follow.
32nd over: Australia 185-1 (Warner 111, Smith 41). Well that’s NOT OUT as the ball is missing the stumps, and wasn’t hitting in line anyway. I can see why they had a crack, it did straighten. But it’s considerably harder to judge with Smith, moving so far outside the off-stump before the ball is bowled. The over was worth seven to the hosts as they shuffle off for a drink, including a Warner boundary pulled through midwicket when Amir dropped short the ball after sending him to the floor with the yorker. Not even that short really, but enough room for Warner to swing, who doesn’t require a second invitation.
Kaboom! Warner SMASHED that! #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/Xjt1f3tkjv
Review! Has Amir trapped Smith? He thinks so, even if the umpire didn’t. So, we’re off upstairs. Stand by.
31st over: Australia 178-1 (Warner 105, Smith 40). Imad beats Warner outside the off-stump to begin - a rare thing today. 175 at 30 overs. You know that old ‘double it at 30’ Richie truism? During the World Cup in 2015 it was more like double it at 35, on the numbers of that tournament. Now, the rules have since changed, an extra man outside the circle in the final ten, but the point remains that a truly outlandish score is still within Australia’s grasp if stars align. Saying all that: only three from this efficient set. So I’ll cool it.
David Warner is the first Australian to hit three one-day centuries at the SCG
The only previous man to do it? Sanath Jayasuriya#AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/AvZN2xLJA2
30th over: Australia 175-1 (Warner 102, Smith 40). Good captaincy there from Azhar to bring back Amir, I reckon, replacing Shoaib. Got to keep Warner thinking about it. It’s a good start, ducking into his stumps and clipping an inside edge. They consider two, but have to stay with the one. Smith makes his way over to about a fifth stump line, pushing to point. So. It’s Warner again. On 99. On his home ground. Where he made a ton before lunch a few weeks ago in a Test Match. Today it is a 98-ball ton! And cue the celebration. It never gets any less enthusiastic. The single was out to point, in keeping with where he made the bulk of his early, dominant runs in setting up this innings for Australia. It’s his 12th ODI century, his fifth in the last ten innings. What will come next? Given he’s been practicing his clobber over cow corner at the non-strikers end, I reckon there’s a clue there. Time to tune in.
29th over: Australia 170-1 (Warner 98, Smith 39). Smith begins Imad’s over with another of those stand-up sweeps. That’s a boundary early on in each of the last four overs for Smith. That’s the difference at the moment. Warner may be 97 from 95 balls, but Smith is driving the tempo of the contest. He gets two more via a backfoot drive that bisects the men on the ring. Lovely timing. He’s already made an SCG ODI ton this summer against New Zealand, has to be a big chance of repeating the dose in about 90 or so minutes from now. If that. Warner retains the strike with a punch to deep cover. He’ll face Soiab on 98. Eight from the over.
28th over: Australia 162-1 (Warner 97, Smith 32). Smith again is happy enough to cut, this time Shoaib’s first ball. The gap picked, that’s four. That should be a risky stroke to an off-breaker, but it doesn’t look it. Back to Warner, four away from a ton, but his hard-hit pull finds the midwicket sweeper. Three to go. Seven again from it thanks to Smith’s boundary.
27th over: Australia 155-1 (Warner 96, Smith 26). Surprised to hear on the call that Warner’s fastest ODI ton is 92 balls. He has faced 89 for his 95 so far, but he looks happy enough to get there the old-fashioned way, clipping Imad for one to begin the over. Smith on the other hand, he’s deep in the crease and crunching the left-arm spin behind point for a boundary. He was dropped on 10. Let’s remember that. From a bloke popping out one hand to a relatively conventional chance in the gully. Let’s remember that too. Sharjeel was the offender. Don’t forget that. Pakistan won’t if/when he ends up on 100 at the end. Back on strike, Warner does try and sweep Imad on 96 - the final ball of his set - but doesn’t get enough on it to beat short-fine. Seven from it.
26th over: Australia 148-1 (Warner 95, Smith 20). Shoaib Malik on from the Members End. So, tandem finger spin. It worked very well a week ago. But there’s far more purpose in the Australian effort today, shown by a rapid two taken into the onside that would nine times out of ten be one walked out to the sweeper. Top tier running between wickets. Might be required to bowl quite a few today if Hasan isn’t seen again, still up in the rooms. A misfield at mid-on by the captain Azhar let’s Smith keep the strike. Six from it. Warner’s within a clean strike of a ton.
25th over: Australia 142-1 (Warner 93, Smith 16). Imad Wasim, the left arm ortho, only getting a go now, just on half way to replace Hafeez. He’s been Pakistan’s best in this series. Warner drives him out to cover first up, the pair scampering through for two. When Smith gets his chance he plays that stand-up sweep, which is essentially a reverse drive by the way he makes contact, past the diving man at short-fine and to the rope. Another good enough, nine from it. And probably more importantly, Imad on the back foot from the get go. That’s half way.
They look like they’re having fun.
24th over: Australia 133-1 (Warner 89, Smith 11). Oh what is that?! Sharjeel is given a chance at gully when Smith edges Junaid and he’s dropped badly with one hand. What a circus. True village. Next ball, Junaid - fuming - runs in and bowls a full toss deemed a no-ball for above waist high. Free hit for Warner who charges and ultimately flicks over midwicket for two when it’s dug in. The replays of the catch look worse every time. “I can’t believe that!” says Michael Clarke on the commentary.
23rd over: Australia 127-1 (Warner 85, Smith 10). After saying those nice things about Hafeez it was inevitable he was going go let me down. To be fair, the first of the two boundaries he conceded was Warner class, down on the one leg sweeping between the legside sweepers behind square. The second though, that’s a long hop, put away. 11 from it, all to Warner, who is now 15 from a 12th ODI century.
22nd over: Australia 116-1 (Warner 74, Smith 10). Some relief for Australia, the new bowler Junaid - replacing Hasan who is yet to come back out of the Pakistan rooms - overpitching to Warner who makes no mistake through the covers. That’s the second boundary since the Australians got to 50. Much better later in the over, the left-armer beats Warner - the first time his forcing stroke off the back foot hasn’t hit the middle of the bat, let alone beaten it altogether. There’s an appeal from the bowler despite it missing the edge by a long way. The TV commentators aren’t too happy with that kind of appeal. Speaking of TV, they have got their act together on the music in this series as well. Including this just then. Nine from the over, by the way.
21st over: Australia 107-1 (Warner 66, Smith 9). Hafeez has raced through his last five overs for 17, 0/31 from seven very handy overs all told. Two singles here to bookend the set, Smith down the ground to begin, Warner likewise to end. Warner’s strike rate during the over dropped below 100, remembering that his first 50 came in 35 balls. Different game now.
AUSTRALIA
37 balls - 0-50
74 balls - 51-100#AUSvPAK
20th over: Australia 105-1 (Warner 65, Smith 8). Hasan is straight down the race after his over. Weird one? Didn’t look in strife, indeed, the over went for only two. His five overs are the tidiest of the lot so far with 1/20. Before leaving, his over to Smith and Warner was another sound one, maintaining a disciplined length. Perfect for this period of the contest.
19th over: Australia 103-1 (Warner 64, Smith 7). The third of five easy singles taken from this Hafeez over constitutes the Australian 100. Considerably slower second 50 than the first, but with the captain and his deputy out there, it might be worth watching this instead of the tennis for a while. They’re pretty good at cricket.
18th over: Australia 98-1 (Warner 61, Smith 5). Smith is away first ball, clipping with authority to the square leg boundary. That’s a very useful way to start a shift. As they learned the other night in Perth - where the Australian captain made a matchwinning ton - early pressure is vital. Some swing prompts an inside edge second up, so that’ll encourage the tourists.
Not a bad start for the skipper!
LIVE: https://t.co/ruoOy2TOGs#AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/A4Gaeze4eG
Reward for effort from Hasan, who has been excellent in putting the brakes on since his introduction. Tempting Khawaja outside off-stump, the opener - who has been far from fluent of late - took the chance but only succeeded in edging behind. Well taken down low by Rizwan as well. And they’re pumped as well. Fair play to them, half an hour ago they could have pondered a massive chase. Now? A chance to make this manageable. If they can just grab Warner as well.
17th over: Australia 92-0 (Khawaja 30, Warner 60). Hafeez good enough to bowl four consecutive dots to Warner before he gets the chance to take one to square leg, then Khawaja another down the ground to end the over. But still, two from it. The captain will be very happy with his deputy here as they take a drink. Still, as Mark Taylor notes on the call, it’s a very sound base to build from as the afternoon progresses.
16th over: Australia 90-0 (Khawaja 29, Warner 59). Few laughs out there when Warner gets himself a free hit after Hasan oversteps. Sure enough, he went for it but didn’t clear midwicket, caught on the circle. Says a bit about modern-Warner, I reckon. Watching him get into the baseball swing is quite unusual these days. Despite the misstep early in the over, it only goes for four. That’s 19 from the last five. Nice fightback. But need a breakthrough.
15th over: Australia 86-0 (Khawaja 28, Warner 57). Better than a part-timer, Hafeez, winning to give it a decent rip and plenty of air. In other words, keeping them honest, Warner especially. Four singles still found through, all through the on-side. 408 the highest score on the SCG, when AB made 162 from 66 balls, the TV reminds me. No real threat of that today. Unless Warner makes a double. Which, of course, he could.
14th over: Australia 82-0 (Khawaja 26, Warner 55). I’ve liked Hasan through this series. The definition of slippery, from a lower trajectory than Amir and Junaid, slightly slingy action as well. He’s able to spit a couple up at Warner off a length to finish a very good over, the best so far today from Pakistan, two from it.
#AUSvPAK
Warner now 54 not out
He has 2 centuries in 12 previous ODIs at the SCG
He has an average in excess of 59 here
13th over: Australia 80-0 (Khawaja 25, Warner 54). Hafeez is back, presumably to push through a couple of overs now the powerplay is over. Does it nicely, conceding only four singles. That’s his job.
12th over: Australia 76-0 (Khawaja 23, Warner 52). Hasan Ali with his right arm fast-medium is on to replace Amir from the Members End, who I think has bowled better than 0/30 from his five so far? A couple for Warner - predictably behind point - brings up David Warner’s half-century in just 35 balls. What a freak he is when hitting them the way he is today. A couple more to midwicket follows to end the over, the Aussies taking six from it.
Meanwhile. Hmmmmm.
18,144 at the SCG just now... #AusvPak
11th over: Australia 70-0 (Khawaja 22, Warner 47). Warner again with his steer to the backward point boundary. Remember when his most lethal stroke was over cow corner? Such a different player. His adjustment into position is quite stunning when playing that shot. Never looks like edging them. Only Joe Root in the modern game does that quite so effortlessly or effectively. Three further singles makes seven from the Junaid over.
Today was the 4th occasion a spinner sent down the first over of an ODI in Australia - previous 3 times were all by SL's Dilshan #AUSvPAK
10th over: Australia 63-0 (Khawaja 21, Warner 41). After a sedate couple of overs, Amir fires up with a fling at Khawaja’s stumps after collecting the ball in his return. It nearly goes bad, the ball spilling away and the Australians considering a quick single, prompting a second throw at the bowler’s end. Four risk-free singles came before that, Khawaja’s clip to midwicket from off-stump to begin the most enjoyable of those to watch.
9th over: Australia 59-0 (Khawaja 19, Warner 39). Junaid much, much better. Fuller to both of these two, without being too full. It’s a tough gig, but somebody has gotta do it. Only two singles for the Australians, who have an over left before the field spreads. But they’ve done plenty in this powerplay already to set up the afternoon.
8th over: Australia 57-0 (Khawaja 18, Warner 38). Some relative calm after the storm for Pakistan, Amir able to pin Khawaja for the bulk of the over. The batsmen exchange singles to end the over.
7th over: Australia 54-0 (Khawaja 17, Warner 36). New over, same outcome: Warner again steering past point high on the balls of his feet. It’s such a harder shot to play than the way he makes it look. It races away. Junaid works his way back into the over, with a fuller length. Junaid already digging into his change-ups, trying on a slower one to Khawaja when he gets his chance, pulled comfortably to square leg. A touch of swing ends the over, Warner following the moving ball with his hands, but the outside edge flies safely to thing man. Oh, and the 50 stand to begin the over. So, 37 balls for that.
6th over: Australia 47-0 (Khawaja 16, Warner 30). David Warner doing as he wants to Amir, picking up a short ball and popping it into the O’Reilly Stand. As you do when it is coming at near enough to 145kph. Later in the over Warner again brings out his steer behind point. This was the shot that made his century in a session possible earlier this month. Indeed, that’s the very region where he brought up the three runs for the hundred. It’s three again here after Shoaib sticks out his boot and prevents the boundary. Still: ten from it. All the pre-conditions for the Australian vice-captain to go big here. Strap in.
KABOOM! Warner is flying at the SCG! #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/2o4WORpcgZ
5th over: Australia 37-0 (Khawaja 15, Warner 21). Junaid into the attack to replace Hafeez. Makes sense with these two looking destructive. But Warner is well up for the left-armer as well. It will be hard to watch for those who played in the Test Match, twice Warner blasting through the off-side with exceptional timing and limited backswing. This is far from high-risk batting. He has a third go at it to a shorter ball outside off stump to finish the over, but finds point.
Cricket Ground DJ having a blinder early, giving the crowd some Midnight Juggernauts. Superb areas.
4th over: Australia 28-0 (Khawaja 14, Warner 13). Australia feel very much away already here. Khawaja opens the Amir set taking him off the hip for four. When the bowler overpitches later int he over it’s a classy clip through the onside again for another boundary.
SHOT! #AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/BwGeWV3DZ4
3rd over: Australia 19-0 (Khawaja 6, Warner 13). Warner drives through cover with excellent footwork, that’s four every time at this stage of the innings with the field up. Hafeez then taken for three, leaping deep into the crease to crunch him through the onside this time. Doesn’t quite go, but the signs are good here for Warner, who was in rude form the last time he played on this ground. Three singles round out the pricey over, worth 11 to the hosts.
2nd over: Australia 8-0 (Khawaja 3, Warner 5). Mohammad Amir taking up the attack from the Members End. Khawaja isn’t in any hurry early on by the looks. The left-armer was outstanding at Perth early on, beating the bat routinely - probably the best he has bowled all tour. Khawaja eventually drives to cover, but there is a misfield in the ring, releasing any pressure that had been built up over the initial four deliveries. Warner pushes the final ball through mid-off, and has done enough in the timing for it to run away to the rope. Good batting.
1st over: Australia 3-0 (Khawaja 2, Warner 1). Khawaja very happy to pat Hafeez back before getting underway to a push down the ground to the man back at long off. Warner does likewise, then Khawaja a second time. Easy peasy for all involved. But broadly effective for the tourists, only three from the over.
Some other news from the SCG, Cricket Australia announcing the new Hall of Fame inductees ahead of the Allan Border Medal tomorrow night.
JUST IN: David Boon, Matthew Hayden and women's cricket trailblazer Betty Wilson are the 2017 Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inductees
The players are out in the middle. Offie Mohammad Hafeez has the new ball in his hand, in keeping with what they tried on in Perth. Warner and Khawaja are the Australians at the crease. Let’s play.
An important one before we get underway.
It’s a big day for the wonderful charity Batting4Change today. With one week left, they have fallen well short of the $100,000 fundraising target. So, in a strong move, for every dollar donated today their impressive crew of player ambassadors will match. This is really great stuff. Consider chipping in.
PLS RT TODAY ONLY @batting4change ambassadors are matching every $ donated - https://t.co/iAi6GaA1bU to make it count #bbl06#smashemsixerspic.twitter.com/TtuDsUGEBT
Good afternoon everyone. Adam Collins joining you here for the fourth ODI from the Sydney. Australia are able to wrap up the series if they can knock off Sydney today after their excellent run chase on Thursday in Perth. Simple as that, really. If the tourists get up, Adelaide’s Australia Day fixture will be the series decider. That’d be nice as well.
I can report that Australia have won the toss, and sure enough, Steve Smith is having a bat. To the teams...
Adam will be with you shortly. In the meantime, check out what Allan Border thinks of Australia’s current crop of spinners. Spoiler: not much.
Related: Allan Border says he doubts Australian spinners will get job done in India
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