Wade hundred hauls Australia to 268
Matthew Wade performed a commendable salvage operation for Australia after the hosts` rejigged top order failed to fire effectively against a diligent Pakistan in the first ODI at an enervating Gabba.
Unbalanced by Mohammad Amir`s dismissal of David Warner and the captain Steven Smith in consecutive balls, the newly promoted Travis Head and Chris Lynn were unable to go beyond cameos, while Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner also underwhelmed.
Glenn Maxwell played sensibly for his 60 but Wade was left to accompany the tail through the later overs to notch his highest ODI score and third international century to ensure a decent target on a pitch that played a little more trickily than appearances suggested. Even so, the visiting captain Azhar Ali had every reason to be pleased with his bowlers.
The hosts had included two debutants in Lynn and the tall fast bowler Billy Stanlake, while Head moved up to open alongside Warner instead of the jettisoned Aaron Finch. Pakistan were unable to consider an ill Shoaib Malik, meaning the inclusion of two allrounders in Imad Wasim and also Mohammad Nawaz.
Azhar Ali called upon Mohammad Hafeez to bowl the second over of the innings after his return from remedial work on his bowling action, and the gambit contributed to a subdued start by Warner and Head. Amir was duly permitted to calibrate his radar, and responded with the sweetest of late outswingers to confound Warner, then a delivery angled nicely across Smith for a first ball edge behind.
Lynn, appearing at the scene of so many BBL feats for the Brisbane Heat, was able to connect with one powerful blow over straight midwicket, but fell victim to a presumptuous heave at a Hasan Ali slower ball to sky a catch. Head peppered the cover boundary off both front and back foot, but was less successful when he tried to drive Imad Wasim and was well held by Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps.
Rizwan claimed another fine catch to account for a hesitant Marsh, and Wade arrived at the wicket without a half century in any format since October. Initially he played in Maxwell`s considerable slipstream, the allrounder contributing well on his return to the XI, but after he also offered a high catch from a miscue and then Faulkner snicked to slip, Wade took control.
Fighting fatigue, he added 42 with Pat Cummins, 23 with Mitchell Starc and a hectic unbroken 33 with last man Stanlake to give Australia`s bowlers a chance under lights. Wade`s desire to get every last run was summed up when he turned little more than half a run into two with madcap running between the wickets to ensure he was on strike to reach a richly deserved three figures from the final ball of the innings.
Source: espncricinfo
