1st ODI: Where did Pakistan lose vs Australia? Skipper Babar Azam explains

Australia defeated Pakistan by 88 runs in the first ODI at the Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore on Tuesday. The visitors lead the three-match series 1-0. 

It was Travis Head who led Australia’s win in the first game. The 28-year-old, who opened on Tuesday, scored 101 runs in 72 balss with the help of 12 boundaries and three maximums to help his team post 313 runs in the first innings. Ben McDermott made his first half-century in ODIs and Cameron Green, who replaced Mitchell Marsh, was unbeaten at 40. 

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In response, Pakistan were bowled out for 225. For the hosts, opener Imam-ul-Haq scored 111 runs and skipper Babar Azam had 57. 

Explaining the loss after the match, Azam said that the pitch was not easy for the new batsmen. He and Imam stitched a 96-run stand for the second wicket before the skipper was lbw by Swepson. No other Pakistani batsman contributed significantly. 

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“We wanted to restrict them to under 300. But we didn’t start well in the first ten overs, but we restricted them well in the end. I thought we lost the grip when I got out. It wasn’t easy for the new batsmen, but unfortunately, I got out and they got the momentum,” Babar Azam said in the post-match presentation.

Pakistan and Australia had several key players missing. Saud Shakeel, Khushdil Shah, Zahid Mahmood and Mohammad Wasim Jr made their debut for the hosts. 

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“When your main players aren’t available, you have to back the young players. The debutants did well though. We will discuss the mistakes we made and look to not repeat it in the next game,” Azam added.

For Australia, spinner Adam Zampa took four wickets for 35 runs, giving 38 runs in 10 overs. Debutant Swepson and Nathan Ellis took two wickets and one wicket respectively.