Australia v Pakistan, 2016-17
Wisden's review of the third ODI, Australia v Pakistan, 2016-17
15-Apr-2017
At Perth, January 19, 2017 (day/night). Australia won by seven wickets. Toss: Australia. One-day international debut: P. S. P. Handscomb.
Chasing 264, Australia were 45 for two, and struggling against the seamers, particularly Mohammad Amir, who was moving the ball at pace as only a few can. When Handscomb, on his one-day international debut, nicked into the cordon on nought, Pakistan erupted, but Junaid Khan was found to have overstepped. Handscomb missed and edged and scrapped - when he did middle one off Junaid on ten, he was put down at point. The profligacy seemed to suck the life from the attack, and Australia seized the ascendancy. By the time Handscomb finally did go, for 82, his partnership of 183 with Smith had done the damage. Smith's eighth one-day international hundred never required the unconventional in order to keep pace. Earlier, Sharjeel Khan's 43-ball half-century had got Pakistan off to a brisk start, bolstered by Babar who, in his 21st ODI innings, became the joint fastest to 1,000 runs (matching Viv Richards, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Quinton de Kock). But they weren't able to accelerate, managing only 102 from the final 20 overs. Hazlewood did most to keep them in check, with three for 32.
Man of the Match: S. P. D. Smith.
Chasing 264, Australia were 45 for two, and struggling against the seamers, particularly Mohammad Amir, who was moving the ball at pace as only a few can. When Handscomb, on his one-day international debut, nicked into the cordon on nought, Pakistan erupted, but Junaid Khan was found to have overstepped. Handscomb missed and edged and scrapped - when he did middle one off Junaid on ten, he was put down at point. The profligacy seemed to suck the life from the attack, and Australia seized the ascendancy. By the time Handscomb finally did go, for 82, his partnership of 183 with Smith had done the damage. Smith's eighth one-day international hundred never required the unconventional in order to keep pace. Earlier, Sharjeel Khan's 43-ball half-century had got Pakistan off to a brisk start, bolstered by Babar who, in his 21st ODI innings, became the joint fastest to 1,000 runs (matching Viv Richards, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Quinton de Kock). But they weren't able to accelerate, managing only 102 from the final 20 overs. Hazlewood did most to keep them in check, with three for 32.
Man of the Match: S. P. D. Smith.