Brisbane: Wicketkeeper-batsman Mathew Wade's blistering hundred and all-rounder James Faulkner's four-wicket haul guided Australia to a comprehensive 92-run win over Pakistan in the first ODI here at the Gabba, Brisbane on Friday.
Chasing a target of 269, Pakistan could only manage 176 runs before they got bowled out in 42.3 overs.
Babar Azam was the lone survivor who fought out hard against the formidable Aussie bowling line-up with score of 33. Apart from him, Imad Wasim (29), skipper Azhar Ali (24), wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan (21), Sharjeel Khan (18) and Umar Akmal (17) could score in double figures.
Earlier, Wade (100) went in with the home side in trouble at 78-5 and combined with Glenn Maxwell (60) in an innings-building sixth-wicket stand of 82 to set Australia on course for a total of 268-9.
He was able to score his maiden ODI century on the last ball of the innings. For Australia, apart from Faulkner who took 4-32, pacemen Pat Cummins (3-33) and Mitchell Starc (2-34) chimed in with valuable wickets to bowl the tourists out for 176.
Wade was adjudged Man of the Match. With the win, the Steve Smith-led side have taken a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The second match will be played Sunday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
"It is a bit sore and hopefully I can get it recovered soon. We will have a better assessment tomorrow. If I get better, I can take part in the next game," said Ali in the post-match presentation thus leaving doubts over his participation in the Sunday game.
