Wade, Faulkner lead Australia 92-run win

Brisbane: Australia thump Pakistan by 92 runs in 1st ODI at Brisbane Cricket Ground on Friday, take 1-0 lead in five match series.

Chasing 269 - a modest target as per current ODI standards - Pakistan were shot out for 176 in 42.3 overs, which stretched their defeats to Australia, in Australia, to 16 games across formats.

Pakistan lost wickets at regular intervals; none of their batsmen barring the usual fighter in Azhar Ali showed any gumption. Not a single half-century in a moderate chase.

It was as if Pakistan were never interested in this chase. Or at least it looked like it. None of the Pakistani batsmen showed intent to either anchor the chase or lead their reply.

Azhar hobbled out of the field due to a niggle in his right leg, but a horrendous performance by his batsmen forced him to get out to bat again. Even in the second attempt, Azhar tried his best. But all he could manage was a 48-ball 24 in two attempts, as he and his side suffered their fourth defeat on the trot on this tour.

James Faulkner was the pick among the bowlers for Australia, claiming 4 for 32 in his 7 overs. Patrick Cummins picked up three Pakistani batsmen and Mitchell Starc claimed 2 wickets, while Mitchell Marsh contributed with 1 wicket and an excellent catch after failing with the bat.

Earlier, wicketkeeper Matthew Wade hit a run off the last ball to reach a century as Australia scored 9-268.

Wade saved the Australian innings after the batting top order slumped to five for 78 after winning the toss.

Wade, who has been under pressure to score runs after a lean spell, turned the innings in a 82-run stand with all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and helped build the total with lower order partnerships.

He hit seven fours and two sixes in his knock for his maiden ODI century.

Maxwell was at his quirky best with reverse sweeps and improvised stroke-making in his 60 off 56 balls with seven boundaries before he was out to a false shot.

Maxwell was dismissed in the 31st over with Australia at 6 for 160 when he attempted to flick Hasan Ali over mid-wicket only to hit the ball with the high part of his bat and dolly an easy catch to Mohammad Hafeez.

Mohammad Amir struck early with the key wickets of adventurous opener David Warner and skipper Steve Smith with successive balls to have Australian rocking at 2-13.

Amir got one to straighten and Warner attempted to flick the ball into the leg side only to be bowled for seven.

Smith went next ball, edging to wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan for a duck.

Rizwan, deputising for first-choice keeper Sarfraz Ahmed who has returned home to tend to his seriously-ill mother, took a total of four catches in the innings.

Debutant Chris Lynn saw off Amir's hat-trick delivery and slammed a monster 97-metre six at his home Gabba ground in his breezy knock of 16 off 12 balls before he was caught behind off Hasan Ali.

Travis Head hit some delightful square and cover drives in his run-a-ball 39 before he was also caught behind of spinner Imad Wasim.

Hasan finished with the best figures of three wickets for 65 off nine overs.

Brief scores
Australia - 9 for 268 (Wade 100*, Maxwell 60, Hasan Ali 3-65)
Pakistan - 176 (Faulkner 4-32, Cummins 3-33)
Result - Australia won by 92 runs