Australia 369-7; Pakistan 312 (off 49.1 overs)
Australia win series 4-1 after posting big total at Adelaide Oval
11.42am GMT
Australia win the series 4-1.
It was always destined to be so after the hosts tallied 369 with the bat; the number one side in the world know how to shut these games down. And while the Pakistan visitors did show resistance - namely through Babar with a fine 100 and Sharjeel a resourceful 79 - they were always well behind the required rate and never truly in the contest.
11.35am GMT
That’s what Starc was searching for last over, a fourth wicket. He gets it in classic Mitch Starc fashion, the on-target yorker from around the wickets; middle stump flying. With Shoaib retired hurt, it is nine out/all out tonight. So that’s it. Back with some final thoughts in a tic.
11.32am GMT
After popping him over the fence at cow corner to start Zampa’s last over, Hasan tried it again later in the set and found himself half way down as Wade did the rest. Good composure from the legspinner, who deserved to also get his name in the book.
11.30am GMT
48th over: Pakistan 304-7 (Wahab 16, Hasan 6). Chasing 370. Starc still has a five wicket bag on the shelf here. But isn’t helped by Zampa who is unable to get his hands underneath a Wahab flay to deep point. Next? A top edge that just clears the circle, and in turn Handscomb. Starc is understandably frustrated not to add to his three earlier wickets - no justice after taking such a brilliant catch himself half an hour ago - but he’ll be okay. 12 balls to go. Not a bad effort from Pakistan, I should add, to get over 300 in this chase. They never truly put it away. Don’t mind that. TV tells us it is their second highest score in Australia ever in an ODI as well.
11.26am GMT
47th over: Pakistan 295-7 (Wahab 9, Hasan 5). Chasing 370. Six Faulkner deliveries. Six singles from the Pakistan bowlers attempting to clear the rope, but only finding sweepers. It is what it is when the required rate is beyond 25 an over.
11.22am GMT
46th over: Pakistan 289-7 (Wahab 6, Hasan 2). Chasing 370. Starc is charging back to his mark after each ball - must have somewhere to be. Actually, they’re running behind schedule, so helping his captain out here so not to get a fine. He misses the off-stump of Wahab by centimetres when beating him from around the wicket, and he continues to do through the over. Way too good in this contest. A thrash gets him one to third man with the penultimate ball, exposing Hasan. He retains the strike, edging to third man himself via Wade’s glove. Dreary cricket.
11.19am GMT
45th over: Pakistan 286-7 (Wahab 5, Hasan 0). Chasing 370. With Shoaib very unlikely to bat again tonight, it’s effectively two wickets to go for Pakistan now. Starc has the ball in his hand for the next over, with a habit of ending innings in a hurry.
11.17am GMT
Faulkner gets his name in the book courtesy of an Ian Harvey back of the hand slower ball. A big top edge from Amir goes high in the air, taken my Maxwell inside the circle at cover.
11.15am GMT
44th over: Pakistan 279-6 (Amir 15, Wahab 1). Chasing 370. The new man Wahab off the mark with a nice square drive for a single, retaining the strike. That’s Cummins finished with 2/60 from his ten. Another good night from him. Fireworks have started in the adjoining Adelaide Parklands, encouraging the inevitable “... and fireworks also in the middle” line from the TV commentary.
11.12am GMT
That ends that, a conventional edge behind when Akmal got low in the crease to try and force a Cummins full ball behind point. He smashed the first ball over long-off to encourage Waqar on the TV call - and fair play to them for going as hard as they can to the end here - but the wicket will put an end to that with only the bowlers remaining.
11.09am GMT
43rd over: Pakistan 272-5 (Akmal 42, Amir 14). Chasing 370. Amir has taken a few balls to get his eye in, but when Hazlewood gives him something to hit outside the off-stump he’s made enough room for himself to clobber it over cover for four. Then to end the over he gets a big chunk of one out to cow corner, standing tall, and it goes the whole way. Real stand and delivery stuff. 1/74 from Hazlewood’s ten overs, the most expensive he’s been in this series and possibly ever?
11.05am GMT
42nd over: Pakistan 259-5 (Akmal 41, Amir 2). Chasing 370. Akmal doesn’t need much encouragement to crack on regardless of the scoreboard equation, pulling Cummins through midwicket then steering a wide/low full toss to the third man boundary. But three other dots in there too, so with nine from it they’re still well short of the notional required rate - now at 14. The crowd 26,000. This was a fixture that used to routinely sell-out. But I won’t go on about it.
11.02am GMT
41st over: Pakistan 250-5 (Akmal 32, Amir 2). Chasing 370. Hazlewood keeps the new combination to four singles from the last four balls, Amir beaten by the first ball he faced. 250 up in 41 overs. In another world, where they are batting first, this isn’t a bad spot to be. But not when chasing 370.
Shoaib Malik has swelling & numbness in arm, no immediate sign of fracture and will bat if needed but likely to have x-ray later #AUSvPAK
10.57am GMT
Last ball of the 40th over and that’s a magnificent catch from Starc at third man charging in from the rope and timing his dive perfectly. He wasn’t sure that he had taken it low, but the TV umpire confirmed that he had. After taking three himself earlier on he could be forgiven for letting that land a metre in front. Not him.
10.54am GMT
Has Starc taken one of the catches of the summer? We’re going upstairs to find out. Stand by.
10.51am GMT
39th over: Pakistan 238-4 (Akmal 25, Rizwan 3). Chasing 370. Well, they need 12 and over and that’s what they got here, Akmal twice taking Hazlewood to the rope. The first was via a perfectly placed pull shot, splitting the legside sweepers. To the fifth ball he did it off the front foot, clipping over mid-on, the fielder up inside the ring. Clever batting.
10.45am GMT
38th over: Pakistan 226-4 (Akmal 15, Rizwan 2). Chasing 370. Faulkner into his seventh now, and not for the first time tonight is let down by his field - namely, Peter Handscomb putting down Akmal at long on. Not the easiest chance of all time, but got both hands to it so should have completed the catch. Had a dirty night out there. Two runs a ball needed from here.
10.42am GMT
37th over: Pakistan 222-4 (Akmal 13, Rizwan 0). Chasing 370. The defining trait of Hazlewood’s over was the swing he generated there with the older ball. He twice beat Babar preceding the leading edge that brought his downfall.
Four ODI tons for Babar Azam. Four. Already. Buy stocks in him. https://t.co/WpuEMMQMl3
10.39am GMT
After bringing up his fourth ODI ton to begin the over with a tuck into the legside, a few balls later his leading edge was won by Hazlewood, the innings over without adding to the century A big fist on 100 showed that this meant a bit to him, as is understandable after such a poor Test series, making only 66 in his six hits in the longer format. 107 balls for the milestone this evening, displaying some wonderful early strokeplay down the ground before turning the board over with more fluency than those he has batted with through these middle overs. Well played.
10.34am GMT
36th over: Pakistan 217-3 (Babar 99, Akmal 11). Chasing 370. Just when the dreary rot was setting in Babar has done very nicely to take Faulkner for three boundaries on the spin - cutting past point, tucking by fine leg then steering a change of place to backward point. Really clever the final one in particular. A single taken to the last ball, and he’s one away from a hundred all of a sudden. 14 from the over.
10.32am GMT
35th over: Pakistan 203-3 (Babar 86, Akmal 10). Chasing 370. Mark Taylor on the TV noting that Smith can move another fielding outside the circle after the 40th over so they may as well have a crack now. I admire his optimism. Ian Chappell adds that they have scored on boundary in half an hour. Cummins doesn’t let them take that advice, only allowing four singles from his over. It’s over 11 an over needed now.
Rohan Connolly on the Umar Akmal incident a couple overs back.
One of life's eternal mysteries why those of us with testicles find others being hit there funny. Hate myself for laughing but always do.
10.27am GMT
34th over: Pakistan 199-3 (Babar 83, Akmal 9). Chasing 370. James Faulkner is back to replace Cummins and immediately hits Akmal in the groin. In keeping with the practice, we all had a good laugh. Later in the over he’s successful in chipping over square leg for four, which brings a smile to his face as well. Nice. One again, six from it - the third over in a row where that’s the result.
10.23am GMT
33rd over: Pakistan 187-3 (Babar 79, Akmal 2). Chasing 370. This is what critics of ODI cricket cite when trying to run it down - the last hour of ODIs when the result is a foregone conclusion. It sells the format short when holding this up as the standard, but it’s true that no one enjoys this much. The best case scenario from a spectator perspective is that Pakistan have a real dip and lose a bunch of wickets. But Babar has that aforementioned ton within his grasp here, so we shouldn’t expect that. Meanwhile, six scored from Hazlewood’s over. Just as you’d expect.
10.18am GMT
32nd over: Pakistan 187-3 (Babar 79, Akmal 2). Chasing 370. The final ball of the previous over would have ended Umar Akmal’s stay immediately had Cummins hit the stumps in his follow through after collecting cleanly, the new man nervously adopting the hit-and-run approach. Anyway, he survived. Hazlewood again from the southern end. And very little to report, the batsmen picking out the sweepers, the bowling side relaxed about that. And with that, the run rare required climbs above ten.
10.10am GMT
Sensibly, Shoaib Malik has retired hurt. It doesn’t look good.
Ouch! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/zMehTuincQ
10.07am GMT
31st over: Pakistan 181-3 (Babar 75, Shoaib 10). Chasing 370. Cummins is back and immediately making life difficult for the Pakistanis. It has to hurt Shoaib when smashed on the forearm - the wrist even. The Australians ask the question, but there is no glove there. Six from it to this point - the penultimate delivery - when they call a premature drinks break one ball before the end of the over so Shoaib can receive some medical assistance. Let’s hope he hasn’t broken it; what an awful way to end the tour.
10.02am GMT
30th over: Pakistan 175-3 (Babar 70, Shoaib 10). Chasing 370. It won’t have an effect on the final outcome of this game, but Babar is on for a ton here and that’s not for nothing. His wonderful clip from Hazlewood’s third ball back into the attack clears the rope at midwicket. Brilliant timing and raw power. Shoaib tries to get into the act with a hook shot to end the over, but doesn’t get enough of it to go the journey - two scored.
9.58am GMT
29th over: Pakistan 163-3 (Babar 63, Shoaib 5). Chasing 370. Starc stays on, for good reason. He’s let down by Handscomb on the rope at cover, letting one go through his legs. You don’t expect to see that from Peter Perfect. Babar and Shoaib get back into some sort of groove by the end of the over, taking Starc fine then straight for series of singles without much risk. They take on Warner at mid-off on the final ball, but he doesn’t hit the stumps, but I don’t he ever has? Feels bad to say unkind things about Warner at the moment. So let’s balance out it by reminding those who may not have seen that he hit his sixth hundred in 11 innings earlier today (and second on the spin), 179 to be precise.
9.53am GMT
28th over: Pakistan 152-3 (Babar 57, Shoaib 1). Chasing 370. Clever shot from Babar to begin Zampa’s over. Marginally overpitched, his feet were ready to go almost inside-out through cover and find the rope. But that didn’t deter the leggie, who keeps putting it on the dancefloor. He beats the new man Shoaib, past his outside edge, with the last ball of the over. As Ian Healy observes on the telly, he’s bowled a lot better than the 0-53 he has to his name from seven overs.
9.50am GMT
27th over: Pakistan 145-3 (Babar 51, Shoaib 0). Chasing 370. You don’t see many wicket maidens at this stage of such an ODI. That’s exactly what Starc has delivered his captain here. Perfect result getting him back into the attack, his two overs nabbing two-for-one. Have that.
GOT HIM! Gone! Starc has his third as Hafeez departs. Pakistan now 3-145 in the 27th #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/X8oqCrcdwE
9.46am GMT
It was good captaincy from Smith to bring on Starc, and good again to retain a slip. He’s in there himself when Hafeez gives some conventional catching practice, pushing at a full delivery without getting to the pitch. Easy as you like. And with the required run rate now closer to 10 than it is nine, well, I think we all know how this is going to play out.
9.43am GMT
26th over: Pakistan 145-2 (Babar 51, Hafeez 3). Chasing 370. Excluding the big over off Zampa, he really has been really good. Gives it the Monica Seles grunt each time, ripping the fingers over the ball. Usually overspinners, drawn on again here as he beats Babar. A shout for LBW, but not quite there. Babar, with a drive to cover, gets the single he needs for his half-century. Done a decent job here. But the pressure shifts onto him to do something extraordinary with Sharjeel no longer.
9.40am GMT
25th over: Pakistan 140-2 (Babar 49, Hafeez 0). Chasing 370. Starc finishes his set with another quick bouncer, Babar getting out the way of it. Watching the replay of the Sharjeel dismissal, it wasn’t great from the Pakistan opener who tried to pull that a long way from his body. Anyway, what’s done is done.
Sharjeel & Babar this series - 475 runs
All other Pakistan batsmen this series - 529 runs #AUSvPAK
9.38am GMT
Fantastic captaincy by Smith. Faulkner was doing nothing wrong - indeed, he was doing plenty right - but the Australian captain chanced his hand by going back to talisman Starc, conscious that Sharjeel had to go or he could start making a real dent in this target. And what do you know, the quicker bouncer is good enough to prompt the false stroke, the ball flying high in the air off the sticker of the bat, an easy take for Wade.
9.35am GMT
24th over: Pakistan 139-1 (Sharjeel 79, Babar 48). Chasing 370. Lovely little comeback over from Zampa, continuing to rip the ball hard into Sharjeel’s stumps even after the two big sixes the previous over. Five singles, down the ground for the most part. Smith will be happy enough with that - provided he can break this partnership up soon. Oh, and with Mitchell Starc taking the ball for the next over, that’s exactly what he’s trying to do.
Kevin Wilson on the email. Morning, Kevin. “If you think Taylor having to plug programmes is bad, have you ever seen David Gower having to plug Sky’s new underwhelming drama or the latest Hollywood blockbuster on Sky Movies? Never have I seen this done with such lack of enthusiasm, it’s deadpannery worthy of Buster Keaton!”
9.32am GMT
23rd over: Pakistan 134-1 (Sharjeel 77, Babar 45). Chasing 370. Faulkner in control here, off-setting the over of 14 from Zampa with one that yields just the three. Babar in particular is finding it hard to get the cagey left-armer away. Will they stick with Zampa? It’s Smith back on the field.
9.29am GMT
22nd over: Pakistan 131-1 (Sharjeel 76, Babar 43). Chasing 370. Boom! Sharjeel, as we learned in his debut Test Match in January, has really no issue in taking on fielders. And that’s exactly his approach here in just clearing Mitchell Starc at deep midwicket with an old fashioned slog. No real doubt that he thinks they can do this. Mid-over we have another instance of the fingers of the bowler deflecting the ball back onto the non-strikers’ stumps, and once again Babar is safe in his ground. That’s excellent batting, on two occasions now surviving what most batsmen don’t. To end the over Sharjeel hits Zampa for another six! Now we’re cooking, says the big boy, the same region as before but a much better stroke, this time standing tall in the shot as he took it from the pitch again over deep mid wicket. Go you good thing!
9.24am GMT
21st over: Pakistan 117-1 (Sharjeel 63, Babar 42). Chasing 370. Head taken out of the attack right away after a pricey second over, Faulkner given another crack. Good captaincy, four singles taken as Faulkner showed no hesitation to change his pace. Actually, it was Warner in charge of that move as Smith is currently off the field. As we saw in Sri Lanka last year, this bloke has the midas touch (sorry) with bowling changes. So expect a wicket soon.
9.22am GMT
20th over: Pakistan 113-1 (Sharjeel 61, Babar 40). Chasing 370. Pretty demeaning Mark Taylor having to plug the Ch 9 show when punters get married at first sight. Don’t make him do it. Zampa was in the hole there early on, Sharjeel sweeping his first delivery for three then Babar driving the next ball for a couple. But three of the last four balls were dots, continuing his fine shift.
9.19am GMT
19th over: Pakistan 107-1 (Sharjeel 58, Babar 37). Chasing 370. Well, nine from this over, Head’s second. It was punctuated by Sharjeel having enough time to pull a shorter delivery over midwicket. Singles throughout the rest of the set. I want to believe this is going to be something special? Am I mad?
Had a little OBO date with Dan Lucas last night. Cute, ay?
.@guardian_sport OBO pub trip tonight with @collinsadam, who brought this adorable girl with him pic.twitter.com/NC0nAKwhrT
9.14am GMT
18th over: Pakistan 98-1 (Sharjeel 51, Babar 35). Chasing 370. Zampa’s half way through a very tidy over when he sprays one past Sharjeel’s leg-stump, which Wade isn’t able to safely glove. A couple of frustrating wides the result. Two further singles to finish the over, five taken. He’s doing a good job here. Impressive first twelve months in the canary yellow for the young leggie.
Australia, your hottest song of 2016 has been announced. And to be fair, it’s a corker.
9.10am GMT
17th over: Pakistan 93-1 (Sharjeel 50, Babar 33). Chasing 370. Tandem spin with Head on with his off-breaks. He’s been given a really good go this series, Maxwell overlooked entirely as a bowler. Only four from his first over too, which is exactly what Smith needs to force these two into the long handle before they’re ready. But hey, Sharjeel has just picked up his third 50 on the bounce with a single to long off. Double it. Triple it.
9.08am GMT
16th over: Pakistan 89-1 (Sharjeel 48, Babar 31). Chasing 370. Okay, so we’ve reached the point where both batsmen are able to take relatively risk-free singles. The foundation is laid - they’ve put on more than 70. That’s how the Zampa over begins, the strike rotated thrice, down the ground then square. Crucially, that’s not where it ends, Sharjeel lifting over mid-off - who is up - and down to the rope. Eight from it, exactly what they need to do over-on-over for quite some time in order to give themselves a reasonable chance in the final ten.
And surprising no one, Flume is about the win the Hottest 100. Probably best to avoid twitter for the next hour or so. It’s a jungle out there around this time each year. I’ll pop the song up once it is formally named.
9.02am GMT
15th over: Pakistan 81-1 (Sharjeel 42, Babar 29). Chasing 370. Hydrated, Cummins has another go at breaking up this stand. A pair of singles to begin, to third man and square leg respectively for Sharjeel and Babar as these two look increasingly comfortable. Whether they can shift up the gears to seriously threaten the target here is another thing. This helps though: Sharjeel absolutely belting a cut to the advertising boards at point. Still a long way to go, 289 more required to be precise, in 35 overs.
8.58am GMT
14th over: Pakistan 73-1 (Sharjeel 36, Babar 27). Chasing 370. Adam Zampa into the attack with his hard-spun legbreakers and overspinners. And sure enough, it’s a tidy start, only three from it. Gives very little to the batsmen, he’s on them right away. The only time he dropped short was the penultimate delivery, where Babar collected an easy two out to point. It’s pretty much Advantage Australia whenever Zampa is on at this early stage of his career. And that is drinks as a 21 gun salute for 26 January takes place nearby, exciting the modest crowd.
Not sure having sandpaper down your pants is within the spirit of cricket Zampa. #AusvPak pic.twitter.com/XSTl8Nx8It
8.52am GMT
13th over: Pakistan 70-1 (Sharjeel 35, Babar 25). Chasing 370. Phwooooooar that’s a magnificent on-drive to get Babar away this time, off Cummins. Shot of the night. Full, but still had hit on the up to make it work. Can play, this bloke. But only a couple more taken through the over, singles for both, as Cummins attacks the off-stump. He’s had a very good series at first-change.
8.50am GMT
12th over: Pakistan 64-1 (Sharjeel 34, Babar 20). Chasing 370. Faulkner gives Babar a four-ball, and he’s more than happy to oblige, smashing a cut through point. The bowler will be disappointed with that. He’s short again to end the over, Sharjeel having enough time to get onto the backfoot to pull past square leg for another boundary. Ten from it - a good one for the tourists. With 7.99 runs an over required, they’re just in touch. Just.
8.47am GMT
11th over: Pakistan 54-1 (Sharjeel 29, Babar 15). Chasing 370. Oh that’s some tidy bowling Pat Cummins, straightening up Babar as it beats his edge early in the over. Some equally impressive fielding after Babar takes the bowlers out to cover, a huge dive saving the boundary before Head - the man he nearly put 300 on with earlier today - completes the throw. Teamwork. Babar, who is looking good pretty good here, gets two more clipping. Cummins responds the customary way to conceding some runs: a bumper to end the over.
8.41am GMT
10th over: Pakistan 50-1 (Sharjeel 29, Babar 11). Chasing 370. James Faulkner on for a jam roll in the last over of the early fielding restrictions. And it’s a tidy one - until the final ball. That will frustrate Steve Smith, his bowler there right on the money and restricting the batsmen to a single a piece. To be fair, not a lot wrong with the delivery, Sharjeel clipping from middle stump high and hard through straightish midwicket, nearly all the way to the rope before bouncing.
Hasan Ali the 3rd bowler, after BV Vittori and R Vinay Kumar, to concede 100 or more runs in a 9-over ODI spell.
RHarper 9-4-8-2 v SL, 1986!
8.37am GMT
9th over: Pakistan 44-1 (Sharjeel 24, Babar 10). Chasing 370. “Not a huge crowd here,” says Ian Healy. Yep, the wide-shot isn’t flattering. If this series doesn’t prompt a re-think about where ODIs sit in the Australian calendar year to year, nothing will. For mine? Bung them in after the Mattador. Use the ODIs to get the public excited about the summer of the Tests and BBL for that matter. Surely not beyond us. Anyway, the cricket. Cummins is on. That’s exciting, always. Singles for both into the off-side early in the over as the quick finds his length. A run out is appealed for when Cummins gets his finger onto a drive in his follow through - they are very confident that Babar is gone. But the Pakistan No. 3 is back in his ground. You have to say, that’s very good awareness from the young man. Most would never get back into their ground, but - as Ian Healy notes - his bat is ready there in the left hand to make the successful stretch. Good batting. Sharjeel retains the the strike with another single into the covers.
8.30am GMT
8th over: Pakistan 41-1 (Sharjeel 22, Babar 9). Chasing 370. Better. Sharjeel exploded in Sydney, and will need to again here if the Pakistanis are any chance at all. When Hazlewood overpitched he didn’t miss out on the cover drive. That’s nice. Next: a couple into the deep on the legside. Then: a well-struck cut behind point for four more. Ten in three balls more the tempo he’ll want to be at, at least until the field goes out. There’s a degree of luck at the end of the over, misjudging a change of pace and missing altogether, before miscuing a hook towards fine leg, but the man there is up at the 45 so no harm done. Their best over of the innings, 11 from it.
8.26am GMT
7th over: Pakistan 30-1 (Sharjeel 11, Babar 9). Chasing 370. That’s better from Sharjeel. After copping it repeatedly on the body from Starc last time around, he’s pulling around the corner with his front-pad in the air for a boundary - only his second in the opening stanza here, the job he’s there for. Starc responds with a pair of yorkers, the second of which he gets a single from into the on-side. Babar’s turn, and he’s immediately beaten. First time he’s looked vulnerable, just prodding at that outside the off-stump. Better to finish: driving to mid-off. Albeit for no run. Six from it.
8.21am GMT
6th over: Pakistan 24-1 (Sharjeel 6, Babar 8). Chasing 370. Babar is again quickly onto the front foot, but unable to beat mid-on with a drive. There’s a wide in there early in the over too, Hazlewood still getting considerable movement, this time the other way. But it takes till the final ball of the over to score off the bat, down to third man. Two from it, which Pakistan can’t afford many of, the required run rate already up to 7.86.
8.18am GMT
5th over: Pakistan 22-1 (Sharjeel 6, Babar 7). Chasing 370. Babar early in the over clips with control through the on-side for three. Sharjeel less convincing when getting his opportunities so far, twice hit by Starc - on the thigh pad then the torso. That’ll hurt with Starc hitting the radar at the better part of 150kph. He’s hit on the thigh pad again! Yuk. Before showing admirable composure to push the last ball to point.
8.15am GMT
4th over: Pakistan 19-1 (Sharjeel 6, Babar 4). Chasing 370. Mark Taylor on the TV congratulating former Australian spinner Bob Holland on picking up an OAM in the 26 January honours. Hazlewood starts down the legside, but Babar is keen to get on with it when he gets his chance, driving with class down the ground for three. Sharjeel is hit on the pads and there is an appeal - Hazlewood likes it, but the consensus is that it is swinging down leg. Impressive shape to the leg-hander. But Sharjeel gets it together quickly, nailing a full-blooded cover drive to end the over.
Cricket Ground DJ on the money early on with this on the PA between overs. And one of the great film clips playing the song in a wardrobe. Rude not to share.
8.08am GMT
3rd over: Pakistan 11-1 (Sharjeel 2, Babar 1). Chasing 370. Babar up to the task defending then steering to third man to get off the mark as the successful over ends for Starc.
GOT HIM! Plumb! Starc strikes and Azhar is on his way for 6. Pakistan 1-10 in the third: https://t.co/ropkM7Tg6A #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/fBREBstpq7
8.06am GMT
After Starc lobs down a trio of ropey full-tosses on the spin he gets it absolutely spot on to the Pakistan skipper, his classic in-swinging yorker collecting the toe as he does so often. Not many are keeping that out; no need to send that it upstairs. Australia away.
8.02am GMT
2nd over: Pakistan 6-0 (Azhar 2, Sharjeel 2). Chasing 370. Hazlewood into his shoebox immediately here, earning a play and miss from Azhar second up. Very nice movement away from the right hander. Good batting from Azhar to get off strike next ball, pushing into the off-side ring. Sharjeel’s turn, and he plays and misses again. Albeit to a looser delivery, short and wide. Just a bit of bounce. To end the over the big quick beats the other edge, straight through the gate. The fast bowlers on top early with plenty to play with.
Best ODI bowling average (qual 100 wickets)
J Garner - 18.84
M STARC - 19.89
D Lillee 20.82#AUSvPAK
7.57am GMT
1st over: Pakistan 5-0 (Azhar 1, Sharjeel 2). Chasing 370. Pakistan away first ball when Starc sprays down the legside to the captain Azhar. Collects a single into the off-side for his first runs off the bat. A second wide from Starc, way down legside to Sharjeel. Between times, the left-handed opener is beaten outside the off-stump. Two more to Sharjeel awkwardly pulling through square leg gets his personal account underway, before another play and miss to end the Starc set. So we’re a bit all over the place to begin.
7.36am GMT
Is there a case to be made...
... that Pakistan got off lightly there? An even 100 in the final 10, that commenced with one opening chasing after a rare double and the other on the cusp of his maiden salute, they would have taken ten an over. I know I enjoyed catching up on it all via Sam Perry’s prose while commuting into the London office in zero degree madness. It warmed me up good.
7.32am GMT
PAKISTAN NEED 370 TO WIN
It was an innings of runs and records for Australia. 369 was the final score, but 284 is probably the one to remember. That was the first wicket partnership between David Warner and Travis Head, who were near impregnable throughout their lengthy stay at the crease. If you’re just catching up, it was the highest partnership in ODI cricket for Australia for any wicket, and for that reason alone worthy of some statistical joy. Warner was equal parts subtle and brutal - he is in unstoppable one day form at the moment, and here joined Sachin Tendulkar as one of two men to hit five - repeat, five - ODI 150s. Head’s innings may prove fractionally more significant though - it’s a debut hundred for his country, and it underlines the decent faith shown in him from that inner-sanctum. He started relatively slowly, but caught up as the innings progressed, demonstrating his own capacity for lusty hitting and gap-piercing in the latter stages.
7.21am GMT
50th over: Australia 369-7 (Faulkner 18, Cummins 11)
An assortment of singles and two’s through mishits and squeezing commences Amir’s (and Pakistan’s) final over. Starc is then run out, Cummins grabs a single, and Faulkner finishes with the same. Another mammoth total for Australia, and Pakistan are staring down the barrel. A couple of thoughts to finish coming up, before I hand over to now-London correspondent, Adam Collins.
7.19am GMT
Starc attempts two to long on, but an excellent throw leaves him well out of his ground. He was entitled to attempt the run, but the fielding was too good. Cummins is next in.
7.15am GMT
49th over: Australia 362-6 (Faulkner 14, Starc 4)
Faulkner finds the boundary early in the over before he breaks his bat trying to jam out a wide yorker. It’s replaced quickly, and is followed by Starc steering a few yorkers for a single and a double respectively. The Tasmanian Faulkner finds another two to third man when there was probably only one, resulting in nine from the over.
7.12am GMT
48th over: Australia 351-6 (Faulkner 7, Starc 0)
Wahab skilfully maneuverers his way through half an over without conceding anything major. Faulkner is then able to pull him behind square for a boundary. Handscomb comes onto strike after they scamper through for a single, but holes out to Hafeez. A real flurry of activity to finish here.
7.10am GMT
Handscomb comes and goes. He’s outskilled by a Wahab slower delivery here - he’s caught on the square leg boundary trying to take Wahab all the way. A comfortable catch ensues. The Handscomb bombing experiment hasn’t worked out today. It’s Starc up next.
7.05am GMT
47th over: Australia 344-5 (Faulkner 1, Handscomb 0)
Hasan’s back into the attack - he’s gone for 80 as he commences the over. He claims Wade early, but Head dispatches him the following ball for a huge six over mid wicket. Head then departs, which leaves Faulkner and Handscomb to do the swashbuckling for the remaining three overs.
7.03am GMT
Now it’s Head departing in a similar vein to Wade. Clearing the front leg, he skies a ball into the deep off-side - though a little straighter than Wade’s effort. The crowd takes a collective in-breath as Azhar first bobbles, then eventually swallows the ball. It’s a significant knock for the South Australia, whose maiden century will be one to remember. He was one part of Australia’s highest ever ODI partnership, and he’s underscored his burgeoning reputation here.
6.59am GMT
Wade clears the front leg to go over cover/mid-off but can only slice the ball high into deep cover territory. Shoaib comes in about 15 metres and takes a comfortable catch somewhere between the ring and the boundary. Handscomb to the crease.
6.56am GMT
46th over: Australia 335-3 (Head 121, Wade 8)
Mid off and cover are up, and Wade finds the thin gap for four. Wahab then tries to slower, legcutter bouncer next and beats Wade completely. The problem is he beats Rizwan too, who concedes a bye for his troubles. There’s a small collision between Wade and Wahab after Wade turns in an attempt for two. It’s decent contact, but it doesn’t stop Wade making his ground, so no one cares. Ten from the over, four to go.
6.52am GMT
45th over: Australia 325-3 (Head 114, Wade 2)
Baseball-esque from both batsmen before the Maxwell dismissal. They might move about the crease prior to delivery, but on impact they stand in that power position with bat cocked above the head, Sammy Sosa style. Amir replies with wide yorkers and high bouncers, and for the most part of the over succeeds. As noted below, he then gets his man in Maxwell, which brings Wade to the crease. Head should have been run out from the final delivery, but Amir spills the throw.
6.50am GMT
Another flat batted square drive from Maxwell picks out the man on the boundary and he departs. Amir out-thought him this over and got his reward. It was a straightforward catch and it’s well deserved for Amir.
6.45am GMT
44th over: Australia 318-2 (Head 114, Maxwell 13)
High level improvisation from Maxwell here, moving all over the crease in a very chest-on pose to Wahab. He throws his hands at one and sends it screaming flat behind point for six! Scarcely believable to conceive of flat sixes behind point, but that’s Maxwell. Head joins in with a boundary over mid off. Maxwell rides one through the vacant fine leg area for another four to cap off a profitable over for the men in gold.
6.41am GMT
43rd over: Australia 300-2 (Head 108, Maxwell 2)
Amir follows Head towards leg early in the over but Head swivel-pulls him high into the stands for six. A few singles are interspersed throughout as Maxwell is unable to get hold of Amir...this time.
6.37am GMT
42nd over: Australia 289-2 (Head 100, Maxwell 0)
So the over goes 4, 1, dot, wicket, 4, wicket, wide, dot. Junaid has a couple and a little bit of normalcy to the score is restored. It’s Maxwell to the crease now - so presumably it will become crazier. Meanwhile, Wahab has pulled up okay from his catch - he’s been their pick today, so somewhat good news for Pakistan.
6.33am GMT
And another! Smith comes and goes - he back foot drove his first ball for four, then tried to swat his second over midwicket . He miscued, and sent Wahab running back to claim a very good catch over his head. The Pakistan quick jammed his knee into the ground upon taking the catch - hopefully he’s okay. Maxwell’s now in.
6.30am GMT
And so it comes to an end. A scintillating knock from Warner to cap off an outrageous ODI summer for the man from Matraville. He chases a short and wide one, only to cut it straight to Babar who takes a smart catch diving forward. Such was the lack of animation from the Pakistanis, the umpires checked whether or not he took it cleanly. They needn’t, he was there easily. A couple of records live to fight another day, but what an innings from Warner.
6.26am GMT
41st over: Australia 279-0 (Head 100, Warner 175)
Amid Head’s ton, Warner hits a huge six over cover - again on one knee. He cramps immediately afterward, which could signal an outright attempt to simply hit fours and sixes. 54 balls to go - 400 looks a bit steep, but they’ll run close.
6.24am GMT
What a moment for the South Australian! His maiden hundred for his country, delivered at home via his favoured cut shot. It’s come from 121 balls, and he’s played a solid hand next to his partner. Always a special moment. His celebration was pure, a single fist pump, a kiss of the helmet, presentation of the full face of the bat. I like it.
6.19am GMT
40th over: Australia 267-0 (Head 97, Warner 166)
Junaid back on now, as Warner starts to cramp. Hopefully the pickle juice can help...
6.16am GMT
39th over: Australia 267-0 (Head 97, Warner 166)
The pull shot has worked exceptionally well for Head today. He muscles Hafeez into the gap in front of square for four, then picks up one. Warner takes a few singles of his own - six from the over.
6.13am GMT
38th over: Australia 261-0 (Head 92, Warner 165)
A beautiful clip over mid wicket for four sets the tone for this over. Surely a mistake is coming though? Head then belts one down the ground but a ricochet off the bowler takes enough sting out of the ball to reduce it to two. Warner finishes by swatting one over square leg for six, on one knee at that. It’s Australia’s highest partnership for any wicket in ODI cricket. Amid the clamour over international records, my mind heads more towards Travis Head’s impending milestone. Can he get there?
6.07am GMT
37th over: Australia 247-0 (Head 89, Warner 154)
Only three from Junaid’s over, but it’s significant. With the final single, Head and Warner have now broken the record for the highest opening partnership in Australian ODI history, surpassing Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh’s 246 against Scotland in 2013. You feel a few more records are in sight.
6.03am GMT
36th over: Australia 244-0 (Head 88, Warner 152)
Riaz is the only resistance. He bowls a 150.1km/hr inswinging yorker that almost knocks over the bloke with 150 to his name. He has real quality today, but no support. Three from the over into the fifth ball, but a misfield from the last ball concedes two. Still, an unlikely success for Pakistan during these dark times.
5.59am GMT
Warner continues his outstanding form to bring up his 150 here. Can he make it a double? He’ll hardly have a better chance, you’d venture.
5.58am GMT
35th over: Australia 239-0 (Head 85, Warner 150)
Head successfully takes on mid-off with a single early on, which then allows Warner to open his shoulders - first with a lofted drive over mid off for four (probably his scoring-most shot today), then with a pull shot for six behind square. Hasan then offers ridiculous width on the off side, so Warner hits that for four too. He collects two off the hip the next ball, and a single to bring up 150. What an innings, records are about to tumble you’d think.
5.53am GMT
34th over: Australia 221-0 (Head 84, Warner 133)
Australia are about to go ballistic here. Balls are flying up everywhere and you’d not be surprised if we had another Amir situation. Riaz is still keeping it pretty tight though. Australia’s highlight is three to Head to finish the over through a very correct drive past cover.
Best opening stands by Aus in ODIs
246 Finch/Marsh v Scot, 2013
212 Boon/Marsh v Ind, 1986
207* WARNER/HEAD v Pak, 2017 #AUSvPAK
5.49am GMT
33rd over: Australia 214-0 (Head 78, Warner 132)
As we commence the over, there’s 108 deliveries remaining in the innings, and ten wickets in hand. What can Australia do with that? You’d imagine they’d be aiming for somewhere between 160-200 runs from that allotment.
5.41am GMT
32nd over: Australia 207-0 (Head 74, Warner 129)
Riaz (0-13 off four) is playing a lone hand here. He returns to the attack and picks up where he left off. Offering pace and little width, Head and Warner can only poke and prod for a couple of singles. Probably goes to show that if the quality’s there, challenging is possible. Only three from the over. We’ll take a drink.
5.37am GMT
31st over: Australia 204-0 (Head 72, Warner 128)
All the talk is of records now, namely Warner’s double and Australia’s highest score in Adelaide. Warner pulls Hasan mightily for four - another huge crack emanating from the Kaboom. There are singles and two’s either side of it.
I’d almost prefer the Nine commentators to plug Married At First Sight again rather than obsess over Warner’s double ton from 80 runs away.
5.32am GMT
30th over: Australia 195-0 (Head 70, Warner 121)
We applaud the Australians here, of course, but there’s a sense of resignation about all of this. Pakistan are hapless. Yes, they’re at the mercy of an in-form, powerful batsman at his peak on a great wicket, but this feels like a World Cup practice match against an Associate nation. It is really difficult to see where Pakistan can compete. There are no plans, frequent misdirected bowling, and of course - poor fielding. Amir goes for eight - pretty good, considering.
5.28am GMT
29th over: Australia 187-0 (Head 64, Warner 119)
Globetrotters stuff now. Warner’s reverse-sweeping Malik’s second ball for four, then going over long on the next. Aren’t you meant to take a single after a boundary and receive purist plaudits for ‘good batting’? Not for Warner, clearly. He takes another two through the vacant forty-five region, before taking a single from Shaoib’s final delivery to retain the strike. Eleven from the over. Immense partnership here.
5.25am GMT
28th over: Australia 175-0 (Head 63, Warner 108)
Amir returns, as does the conversation about how unlucky he’s been this summer. It’s a fair view - though sometimes he’s just been too good. Anyway, it’s a different story this over. Head cuts him for four early on, then rocks back and pulls him for six from one short of a length. I think he toed the ball, too. Devastating stuff for Pakistan - you can only imagine how demoralised they must be as a collective. It feels like they’re supplementary to this whole dance. Australia are scoring runs at will - 7, 8, 10 an over - with more to come. What can Pakistan do here?
5.20am GMT
27th over: Australia 164-0 (Head 52, Warner 108)
And now Head’s in on the act, bringing up his fifty via a crushing pull shot from Malik that travels flat and nearly the entire journey. His fifty comes from 78 balls, and seems to trigger another gear. He flips the final ball of the over over his shoulder for another boundary. So many runs to come.
5.17am GMT
26th over: Australia 154-0 (Head 47, Warner 103)
An over remembered for Warner’s ton, but otherwise a pretty decent one from Junaid. He aims fuller this over, finishing with a well-directed yorker to complete the set. Only four singles from it.
Back-to-back hundreds for David Warner, his sixth in his last 11 ODIs
He takes only 78 balls https://t.co/F6hKIV2oN5 #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/qNPWqxIOmm
5.13am GMT
Warner’s fastest-ever hundred arrives! He goes back-to-back here, bringing it up with a quick single. He’s been irrepressible here, with a mixture of brutality and subtlety that’s rendered him almost unstoppable. Another stellar knock from a guy in mind-boggling form. Can he get a double?
5.10am GMT
25th over: Australia 149-0 (Head 46, Warner 99)
Shoaib is bowling a deliberately slow pace here, tossing up to Warner and inviting a big stroke. Warner doesn’t oblige however, eventually settling for a single wide to mid on. We wait. Head finds a single of his own, which brings Warner on strike for the final delivery of the over. Warner gets one. He’s 99, and on strike next over...
5.07am GMT
24th over: Australia 146-0 (Head 45, Warner 97)
A procession of singles to leg greets Junaid’s initial deliveries, before Warner is pinned down for a couple of deliveries. Nervous nineties? It’s unlikely, but Warner does seem to be fractionally cautious here. Singles are his M.O. at the moment, frustrating the record buffs no end (Warner is approaching his fastest ODI century by some distance). Head finally breaks his own shackles with a sumptuous on-drive for four to finish the over.
5.03am GMT
23rd over: Australia 139-0 (Head 40, Warner 95)
The experienced Shoaib is now introduced, as we’re on Warner #doubleton watch. Head advances down the track in a bid to take Shoaib down but realises the error of his ways, sliding his way back in well before Rizwan takes the bails. We have a look anyway but it wasn’t close. Head’s stepped up his intent here - there seems to be a fraction more oomph to his strokeplay. Warner will make most appear slow, but 40 off 68 probably requires some correction. Head can’t provide it in this over. A good start for Shoaib. Warner on strike.
4.58am GMT
22nd over: Australia 137-0 (Head 38, Warner 95)
First ball, four. Junaid is short and wide and Warner doesn’t miss, cutting him hard past backward point. Warner’s closing in on his fastest ODI hundred by some distance here. Head gets himself back on track and walks at Junaid in an attempt to lift him over mid-on. The ball goes along the ground instead to the aforementioned man, who misses a decent run-out attempt. Warner double hundred talk has already commenced in earnest on Channel Nine.
4.54am GMT
21st over: Australia 129-0 (Head 36, Warner 89)
Hasan Ali’s back into the attack. Head hammers a couple of pull shots, most to fielders. As with many Pakistan overs, it’s going well until Warner’s on strike. He deftly rolls a pull shot around the corner that beats the man on the forty-five, before a ridiculous overthrow means a single becomes five. A wild throw from cover evades both the bowler and back-up fieldsman, who both could have been sharper in trying to stop it. Ironic cheers ensue. Cue Pakistan fielding jokes. This one’s deserved.
4.47am GMT
20th over: Australia 118-0 (Head 35, Warner 79)
Some decent heat from Wahab here, and if you remove Warner from the contest you’d have to say both Wahab and Hafeez have the wood on Head. Wahab then spears one into Head’s pad, succeeding only in flicking it beyond Rizwan for four leg byes. Head then gets himself off strike, before Warner does the same. Eight from the over.
4.44am GMT
19th over: Australia 110-0 (Head 33, Warner 77)
Warner’s seen enough and launches Hafeez for the first six of the fixture - courtesy of a one-knee slog sweep. That sets him up for the over, before he comes down the wicket and lofts Hafeez all the way for another six over wide mid off. It went a long way, and looked more of a caress than something bludgeoned.
4.40am GMT
18th over: Australia 97-0 (Head 32, Warner 65)
Riaz is over the 150km/hr mark now as the Hafeez-Riaz axis develops a semblance of ascendancy. Why is this working when the previous bowling partnership didn’t? A combination of pace variation and almost zero width is my early though. Riaz errs, though, allowing Warner to capitalise on a full delivery - smashing it through extra cover for four. Riaz is straight back on it though, forcing Warner to improvise, unsuccessfully. Then Akmal then cuts one off at backward point. This is the sort of bowling and fielding that creates a poor decision and a chance. Stand by...
4.37am GMT
17th over: Australia 92-0 (Head 31, Warner 61)
Hafeez continues to confound Head with flight and dare I say guile, but Head’s able to find a single to get himself off strike. Warner sees out the over, though he could be forgiven for thinking he needs to compensate for Head’s recent profligacy. Credit to Hafeez of course, but Australia’s platform is such that acceleration must surely be the policy.
4.32am GMT
16th over: Australia 91-0 (Head 30, Warner 61)
Wahab’s found his area here, as Head struggles to get him away. His shots are increasingly played in anger, before a blasted cover drive triggers a misfield that allows the South Australian a single and a brief reprieve. Methinks Darren Lehmann would be looking for some acceleration from Head with all the firepower to come. That’s drinks.
Have any Australians (or anyone) scored four ODI tons in a home summer? . #ausvpak @RicFinlay @LawrieColliver
4.28am GMT
15th over: Australia 89-0 (Head 29, Warner 60)
Five off Hafeez’s over as Pakistan construct a few in their favour. Head continues to be ponderous in reaction to Hafeez’s flight and pace.
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