Pakistan v Australia, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the first ODI, Pakistan v Australia, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Sharjah, October 7, 2014 (day/night). Australia won by 93 runs. Toss: Australia. One-day international debuts: Zulfiqar Babar; S. A. Abbott.
An important phase in the life and times of Steven Smith began on this balmy evening in Sharjah, where Pakistan once ruled supreme. He was already a Test fixture, but his maiden one-day hundred here added a string to his bow. It was a fine innings against some accomplished spinners on a sluggish pitch taking some turn. Smith used his feet beautifully, mixing orthodox strokes with newfangled fidgety ones, even walking across his stumps to flick the giant Mohammad Irfan over midwicket. No other batsman on either side reached 50. Another man staking a claim for a 50-over place also had a profitable night: Lyon's no-tricks off-spin had taken a back seat in limited-overs cricket, but his intervention was critical. Pakistan have rarely chased well, and Lyon delivered two mortal blows by dismissing Sarfraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq with successive balls in the 13th over.
Man of the Match: S. P. D. Smith.
An important phase in the life and times of Steven Smith began on this balmy evening in Sharjah, where Pakistan once ruled supreme. He was already a Test fixture, but his maiden one-day hundred here added a string to his bow. It was a fine innings against some accomplished spinners on a sluggish pitch taking some turn. Smith used his feet beautifully, mixing orthodox strokes with newfangled fidgety ones, even walking across his stumps to flick the giant Mohammad Irfan over midwicket. No other batsman on either side reached 50. Another man staking a claim for a 50-over place also had a profitable night: Lyon's no-tricks off-spin had taken a back seat in limited-overs cricket, but his intervention was critical. Pakistan have rarely chased well, and Lyon delivered two mortal blows by dismissing Sarfraz Ahmed and Misbah-ul-Haq with successive balls in the 13th over.
Man of the Match: S. P. D. Smith.