Travis Head’s century lifts Australia to 313-7 against Pakistan
LAHORE: Pakistan’s skipper Babar Azam on Tuesday became the fastest Asian batter to reach 4,000 ODI runs.
The number one ranked batter in the world achieved this milestone in the first ODI against Australia in Gaddafi Stadium Lahore. Azam took just 81 innings to achieve this feat, only one more than former South African great Hashim Amla — who remains the fastest by reaching the landmark in 81 innings.
The right-hander also became the first-ever Pakistani to complete 4,000 ODI runs in less than 100 innings. Prior to this, Mohammed Yousuf was the fastest to score 4,000 ODI runs for Pakistan reaching this milestone in 110 innings.
Third on the list is legendary West Indies batsman Sir Vivian Richards, who completed the feat in 88 innings. English captain Joe Root is in fourth place having reached this milestone in 91 innings while Indian captain Virat Kohli is fourth, having done so in 93 innings.
Opener Travis Head staged a remarkable return to one-day cricket with a fiery century Tuesday to guide Australia to 313-7 in the opening day-night international against Pakistan. Head knocked a 72-ball 101 — his second one-day international hundred — while Ben McDermott hit a career-best 55 from 70 balls after Australia were sent in to bat by Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium. Head, playing his first ODI since November 2018, cracked 12 boundaries and three sixes and put on 110 for the opening wicket with skipper Aaron Finch who made 23.
Head took a single off-spinner Iftikhar Ahmed to reach three figures off 70 balls, the fastest ODI century by an Australian against Pakistan. He beat David Warner’s record of 78 balls in Adelaide in 2017.
With the score at 209-2 in the 33rd over, Pakistan pulled back with three wickets for just 21 runs in the space of 39 balls, dismissing McDermott, Marnus Labuschagne (25) and Alex Carey (four). Cameron Green (40 not out), Marcus Stoinis (26) and Sean Abbott (14) helped Australia score 50 in the last five overs and get past 300-mark. Green hit three boundaries and a six in his 30-ball knock.
For Pakistan, pacer Haris Rauf took 2-44 and debutant leg-spinner Zahid Mahmood finished with 2-59. Australia, already missing key players such as Warner, Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc for multiple reasons, were further depleted after spinner Ashton Agar tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. The remaining two matches are on Thursday and Saturday, also in Lahore.