AUS v PAK, 5th ODI Review: David Warner and Travis Head lead Aussies to victory

The curtains were brought down on the AUS v PAK ODI series as David Warner and Travis Head unleashed some impeccable punishment on the Pakistan bowlers as they simply had no answers to the massive partnership stitched by the duo. While both batsmen went ahead and ensured that they slammed twin centuries, it was Warner in particular who was severe as he closed in on a career first double century in ODIs.

As for the Pakistan bowlers, it was Hasan Ali who gave away 100 runs in his 10 overs while Babar Azam who slammed a century, Pakistan’s only century of the match. However, despite all of this, Pakistan came somewhere in and around the 300-run mark on the day as the Pakistanis now have their work cut out when it comes to the upcoming T20 internationals to follow.

Batting first, Travis Head returned to partner David Warner atop the innings for the Australians. With the wicket being an absolute peach for batting, it was clear that the Australia openers were going to have a go at almost everything. The two began by respecting the bowling to such an extent given the fact that it was Mohammad Amir and Junaid Khan bowling. Initially, it was David Warner who began to stride and wade his way as he usually does into the Pakistan bowling unit, something that they were not privy to in the first two ODIs at least.

While the first fifty of the innings ensured that the Australians had tread softly, the next 150 runs would come in quick time. Hasan Ali, usually Azhar Ali’s go-to man when it came to picking up wickets, was simply ripped apart by David Warner. Moreover, there was also a certain solace to the fact that his other bowlers bowled with less discipline.

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This ensured that both batsmen including Travis Head could make their way towards an incredible century as well. Head began slogging away at the mystique as the partnership soon became 200 in a mere 30 odd overs. Warner also looked good to go ahead and secure a career-first double century, something he had not done previously. Eventually, it was both Head and Warner who were dismissed on 128 and 179 respectively after adding an impressive 284 runs for the first wicket, certainly a record of sorts.

The rest of the wickets eventually fell away to no avail as hardly a few odd runs were added, ensuring that the innings closed on 369, massive score nonetheless.

The Pakistan innings once again began in a bit of a problem when skipper Azhar Ali lost his wicket early on in the innings once again. However, following this was some impressive batting from both Sharjeel Khan and Babar Azam who were beginning to show signs of progress. This progress was topped-off in the manner of Azam’s calculated approach coupled with some impressive batting from Sharjeel who seemed to be flicking the ball into the stands every now and then.

However, the wickets continued to tumble sooner or later and it was once again down to Umar Akmal ad Shoaib Malik to ensure that something at the very least would happen. However, Akmal would lose his wicket before Malik was stretched off being the latest recipient of a retired-hurt problem.

A few massive blows into the stands and a few heaves from the tail eventually was to no avail as Australia completed an impressive 57-run win to close the series at 4-1.

Brief Scores:

Australia: 369/7 in 50 overs (D Warner 179; Junaid 2/61)

Pakistan: 312/9 in 49.1 overs (B Azam 100; M Starc 4/42)

Man of the Match: David Warner