Travis Head hits century as Australia beat Pakistan in first ODI

Leg-spinner Zampa takes 4-38 as tourists cruise to 88-run win in Lahore

Australia's Travis Head celebrates after making a century off 70 balls during the first One Day International between Pakistan and Australia at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, on Tuesday, March 29, 2022. He was out caught by Khushdil Shah off the bowling of Iftikhar Ahmed for 101. AP

Australian opener Travis Head is congratulated on his century by teammate Ben McDermott. AP

Australia's Travis Head bats during the first ODI against Pakistan in Lahore. AP

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq plays a shot on his way to a century. EPA

Pakistan's Iftikhar Ahmed, left, celebrates with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan after taking the wicket of Australia's Travis Head. AFP

Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who finished with figures of 4 for 48. AP

Australia's Adam Zampa celebrates after taking wicket of Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan. AP

Australia's Travis Head drives in the ODI against Pakistan. AFP

Pakistan's Haris Rauf celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Sean Abbott. AP

Australia's Sean Abbott bowls against Pakistan. AP

Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman plays a shot during the first ODI against Australia. AFP

Australia's Sean Abbott in his delivery stride. AFP

Pakistan's captain Babar Azam plays a cut against Australia. AFP

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq plays a shot. AFP

Pakistan's Imam-ul-Haq drives against Australia. AFP

Australia's Sean Abbott, centre, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman. AP

Australia's Sean Abbott is clean bowled by Pakistan's Haris Rauf. AP

Pakistan's Haris Rauf bowls. AFP

Australia's Marcus Stoinis is bowled out by Pakistan's Haris Rauf. AFP

Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan runs out Australia's Ben McDermott. AFP

Australia's Alex Carey is bowled by Pakistan's Zahid Mahmood. AP

Australia's captain Aaron Finch plays a sweep. AFP

Aaron Finch gets a bouncer against Pakistan. AFP

Australia's Mitchell Swepson bowls during the first one-day international (ODI) cricket match between Pakistan and Australia at the Gaddafi Cricket Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, 29 March 2022. EPA / RAHAT DAR

Australian players celebrate after taking the wicket of Pakistan's Fakar Zaman. EPA

Pakistan's Babar Azam drives the ball on his way to 57. EPA

Travis Head hit a blistering century and leg-spinner Adam Zampa grabbed 4-38 to lift Australia to an 88-run victory over Pakistan in the first ODI on Tuesday.

Head hammered 101 off 72 balls and propelled Australia to an impressive 313-7 after they were left with only 13 fit players hours before the start of the three-match series.

Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq made 103 off 93 balls – his eighth ODI hundred – and captain Babar Azam laboured for 72 deliveries to get 57 before second-string Australia bowled out Pakistan for 225 in 45.2 overs.

Imam and Babar struggled to pace the chase in a 96-run second wicket stand before leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson had him trapped leg before wicket in the 25th over.

Babar became the second fastest batter in ODIs to complete 4,000 runs, doing it in 82 innings, behind South African Hashim Amla (81 innings) but never looked to threaten the Australia total as the Pakistan skipper could hit only six boundaries.

Zampa and Head, who picked up 2-35 with his off spin bowling, then ran through the middle and lower order on a wicket which offered plenty of turn to the spinners.

Imam hit six boundaries and three sixes before he was clean bowled by debutant fast bowler Nathan Ellis in the 38th over as Zampa wrapped up the tail quickly through his sharp googlies and leg spin.

With several leading Australian players being rested for the white-ball series in Pakistan, Ashton Agar was ruled out hours before the toss on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid-19. Josh Inglis had been ruled out Monday when the wicketkeeper-batter was also tested positive.

Head provided Australia a strong platform with his blistering hundred off 70 balls – the left-handed batter’s second ODI century against Pakistan after Babar won the toss and opted to field.

Ben McDermott hit his maiden ODI half-century before he was run out for 55 off 70 balls while attempting a needless run off a misfield, but Head punished Pakistan's fast bowlers after successfully overturning an lbw decision off debutant Mohammad Wasim’s fourth delivery.

Pakistan players in Indian Premier League - in pictures

Pakistan players Sohail Tanvir, third right, Kamran Akmal, sixth right, and Younis Khan, centre right, were part of the Rajasthan Royals team that won the 2008 IPL. Getty

Shoaib Malik, second right, and Mohammad Asif, right, were part of a star-studded Delhi Daredevils team in the 2008 IPL. AFP

Azhar Mahmood, left, has played for Kolkata Knight Riders and Kings XI Punjab. AFP

Shoaib Akhtar made a big impact with Kolkata Knight Riders.

Umar Gul was part of the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2008, while Shahid Afridi played for the now defunct Deccan Chargers. Andrew Parsons / The National

Former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq played eight matches of the Royal Challengers Bangalore. AFP

Salman Butt turned out for Kolkata Knight Riders. Philip Cheung / The National

Australia’s fast-emerging new all-rounder Cameron Green provided a late flourish to the innings with an unbeaten 40 off 33 balls as Pakistan hit back after claiming the key wicket of Head at the stroke of halfway mark.

Head had struggled in Australia’s 1-0 historic win in the Test series against Pakistan but exhibited an array of shots against Pakistan fast bowlers early on by smashing 10 boundaries off his first 32 deliveries in his first ODI since November 2019.

Captain Aaron Finch struggled to get going during his 23-run knock in a 110-run Head-dominated opening stand with the left-hander playing some fluent drives – especially on the off side of the wicket.

Head tried to break the shackles and smashed debutant leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood for a big six in his first over before wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan grabbed an edge off Australia's skipper on the second attempt to give Mahmood his first ODI wicket.

Head hit 12 fours and three sixes in his fastest ODI century for Australia against Pakistan before holing out at long off while attempting a lofted drive against off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed.

Pakistan pegged back Australia in the latter half of the innings through Haris Rauf (2-44) and Mahmood, who came back strongly after leaking 30 runs off his first three overs and finished with 2-59.