The 1st ODI of the 5 match ODI series between Australia and Pakistan was won by aussies by 5 wickets.Pakistan batted first and put a competitive 274 in Brisbane.Opener Salman Butt played a crucial role as he was the top scorer of the innings making a 81-ball 72.He had a steady opening partnership with Kamran Akmal who made 34.While former skipper Younis Khan made a slow 46 off 74 balls.Clearly,Khan wasn't in his best touch,however,youngster Umar Akmal impressed for the brief period he spent in the middle.Later in the innings,Shahid Afridi smashed a quickfire 42 off just 26 balls to accelerate towards the end.However,Doug Bollinger bowled an amazing last over and didn't concede a single run before Ricky Ponting ran out Mohammed Asif to end the innings.Allrounder Shane Watson continued his good run picking 4 for 36 in his 10 overs.Bollinger was very impressive as well as he picked two crucial wickets of Butt and skipper Mohammed Yusuf.Victorian Clint Mckay also picked up 3 wickets though he was expensive.
Australia started poorly and lost Watson in the 4th over.Pakistan fast bowlers Mohammed Aamer and Asif were very impressive,as they kept things very tight.Aamer conceded just 29 in his 9 overs,though he managed to pick up only 1 wicket.Asif picked 1/44 in his allotted quota.Neither Shaun Marsh nor Ricky Ponting looked fluent.Ponting's wicket was claimed by Shahid Afridi,who has improved his bowling immensely over the years.Ponting's deputy Micheal Clarke batted well before getting runout on 58.The real star of the match was Cameron White who made a superb century.Scoring 105 in just 88 balls,with 8 fours and 4 sixes,the Victorian skipper showed his class and great hitting power.White had a century run partnership with Clarke and steadied the aussie runchase.Micheal Hussey one again pfinished off the game for Australia as he always does.Hussey made a quick 35 and finished off the runchase with Brad Haddin after White's dismissal.Afridi,Naved-ul-Hasan and Saeed Ajmal were all expensive.White was deservingly given the Man of the Match.
Clarke after getting a sore hit in the ribs by Mohammed Aamer,is doubtful for the 2nd ODI in Sydney on Sunday.
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