White ton takes Australia home
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Cameron White finally showed he could be a potent force at home as his muscular century pushed Australia to a five-wicket win in the opening ODI against Pakistan, reports cricinfo.com.
Over the past six months White has starred in England and India to confirm himself as a key batting figure and he powered the hosts as they over-hauled the target of 275 with nine balls to spare.
It was the first time White, playing his 48th ODI, had passed fifty in Australia and he almost made it to the end before falling for 105 off 88 balls. Australia were uncomfortable after slipping to 3 for 84 with Ricky Ponting's exit, but White joined with Michael Clarke in settling the nerves and then took on the major responsibility with the vice-captain's departure.
White is a hulky figure and he peaked with three consecutive sixes off Shahid Afridi between long-on and midwicket in the 41st over that downgraded Australia's assignment from difficult to comfortable.
Afridi is used to dishing out that sort of sequence and did his best to provide the memorable moment of the day with a 26-ball 48, but White made sure it was his firework that will be recalled first.
He picked up four sixes and eight fours, including an unorthodox cross-bat down the ground off Rana Naved-ul-Hasan followed by a textbook cover drive in the same over, and added his second century to follow the 105 against England in Southampton in September.
He was bowled by Rana trying for another boundary and left to a standing ovation. Michael Hussey, who was unbeaten on 35, finished off the match to earn a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The result continued Australia's successful summer and stopped Pakistan, who had been heavily reinforced after the 3-0 Test loss, from gaining any momentum ahead of Sunday's second game in Sydney. They had chances to contain Australia further in the field following their useful start, but this outfit will always miss a few run-outs or catches.
Salman Butt's 72 put Pakistan on track for a sizeable total and Afridi made sure it happened with a powerful late surge that took them to 274. After winning the toss, the visitors had a series of useful stands over most of the innings but none that dominated the game until Afridi arrived at No. 7.
Australia had fought back from Butt's display through Watson and Clint McKay, but after the visitors wobbled to 7 for 227 in the 44th over Afridi quickly steadied them. Afridi forced a six to long-off from Nathan Hauritz before pulling Peter Siddle into the stands at midwicket to provide a much-needed boost during the batting Powerplay. He also found three boundaries in a row off McKay before the final delivery of the over went for four leg byes.
scorecard
Pakistan innings: (50 overs maximum)
Salman Butt c Haddin b Bollinger 72
Kamran Akmal c Clarke b Watson 34
Younis Khan c Marsh b McKay
Mohammad Yousuf b Bollinger 2
Umar Akmal c Haddin b McKay 23
Shoaib Malik c Haddin b Watson 28
Shahid Afridi c Hussey b Watson 48
Mohammad Aamer c #Haddin b McKay 0
Naved-ul-Hasan not out 8
Saeed Ajmal c Clarke b Watson 2
Mohammad Asif run out (Ponting) 0
Extras (lb 4, w 5, nb 2) 11
Total: (all out; 49.4 overs; 217 mins) 274
Fall of wickets:1-62, 2-117, 3-123, 4-156, 5-205, 6-221, 7-227 , 8-269 , 9-274, 10-274
Australia innings: (48.3 overs)
SR Watson c Saeed Ajmal b Mohammad Aamer 5
SE Marsh c Naved-ul-Hasan b Mohammad Asif 15
RT Ponting c sub (Khalid Latif) b Shahid Afridi 27
MJ Clarke run out (Naved-ul-Hasan) 58
CL White b Naved-ul-Hasan 105
MEK Hussey not out 35
BJ Haddin not out 7
Extras (b 4, lb 10, w 9) 23
Total: (5 wickets; 48.3 overs; 203 mins) 275
Fall of wickets:1-16, 2-37, 3-84, 4-186, 5-260
Over the past six months White has starred in England and India to confirm himself as a key batting figure and he powered the hosts as they over-hauled the target of 275 with nine balls to spare.
It was the first time White, playing his 48th ODI, had passed fifty in Australia and he almost made it to the end before falling for 105 off 88 balls. Australia were uncomfortable after slipping to 3 for 84 with Ricky Ponting's exit, but White joined with Michael Clarke in settling the nerves and then took on the major responsibility with the vice-captain's departure.
White is a hulky figure and he peaked with three consecutive sixes off Shahid Afridi between long-on and midwicket in the 41st over that downgraded Australia's assignment from difficult to comfortable.
Afridi is used to dishing out that sort of sequence and did his best to provide the memorable moment of the day with a 26-ball 48, but White made sure it was his firework that will be recalled first.
He picked up four sixes and eight fours, including an unorthodox cross-bat down the ground off Rana Naved-ul-Hasan followed by a textbook cover drive in the same over, and added his second century to follow the 105 against England in Southampton in September.
He was bowled by Rana trying for another boundary and left to a standing ovation. Michael Hussey, who was unbeaten on 35, finished off the match to earn a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The result continued Australia's successful summer and stopped Pakistan, who had been heavily reinforced after the 3-0 Test loss, from gaining any momentum ahead of Sunday's second game in Sydney. They had chances to contain Australia further in the field following their useful start, but this outfit will always miss a few run-outs or catches.
Salman Butt's 72 put Pakistan on track for a sizeable total and Afridi made sure it happened with a powerful late surge that took them to 274. After winning the toss, the visitors had a series of useful stands over most of the innings but none that dominated the game until Afridi arrived at No. 7.
Australia had fought back from Butt's display through Watson and Clint McKay, but after the visitors wobbled to 7 for 227 in the 44th over Afridi quickly steadied them. Afridi forced a six to long-off from Nathan Hauritz before pulling Peter Siddle into the stands at midwicket to provide a much-needed boost during the batting Powerplay. He also found three boundaries in a row off McKay before the final delivery of the over went for four leg byes.
scorecard
Pakistan innings: (50 overs maximum)
Salman Butt c Haddin b Bollinger 72
Kamran Akmal c Clarke b Watson 34
Younis Khan c Marsh b McKay
Mohammad Yousuf b Bollinger 2
Umar Akmal c Haddin b McKay 23
Shoaib Malik c Haddin b Watson 28
Shahid Afridi c Hussey b Watson 48
Mohammad Aamer c #Haddin b McKay 0
Naved-ul-Hasan not out 8
Saeed Ajmal c Clarke b Watson 2
Mohammad Asif run out (Ponting) 0
Extras (lb 4, w 5, nb 2) 11
Total: (all out; 49.4 overs; 217 mins) 274
Fall of wickets:1-62, 2-117, 3-123, 4-156, 5-205, 6-221, 7-227 , 8-269 , 9-274, 10-274
Australia innings: (48.3 overs)
SR Watson c Saeed Ajmal b Mohammad Aamer 5
SE Marsh c Naved-ul-Hasan b Mohammad Asif 15
RT Ponting c sub (Khalid Latif) b Shahid Afridi 27
MJ Clarke run out (Naved-ul-Hasan) 58
CL White b Naved-ul-Hasan 105
MEK Hussey not out 35
BJ Haddin not out 7
Extras (b 4, lb 10, w 9) 23
Total: (5 wickets; 48.3 overs; 203 mins) 275
Fall of wickets:1-16, 2-37, 3-84, 4-186, 5-260