Ton-up Smith leads Australia to seven-wicket win over Pakistan

Captain Steven Smith scored a scintillating century as Australia defeated Pakistan by seven wickets to go 2-1 in the five-match series at WACA, Perth on Thursday.

Chasing 264 runs to win the match, Australia were in all sorts of trouble after losing openers at the score of 45.

However, Smith along with debutant Peter Handscomb, scored 183 runs for the third wicket to seal a comfortable victory for the hosts.

Azhar Ali will miss third ODI, confirms Wasim Bari

Smith finished 108 not off 104 balls with the help of 11 fours and one six, whereas Handscomb scored 82 off 84 balls with the help of six fours.

For Pakistan, pacers Mohammad Amir, Junaid Khan and Hasan Ali picked one wicket each.

Earlier, Young Babar Azam played a responsible innings as to take Pakistan to 263 for the loss of seven wickets at the end of their allotted 50 overs.

After being put into bat, the Men in Green had a good start courtesy Sharjeel Khan, who scored a breezy 50 off just 47 balls, with the help of eight fours and one six.

Stoinis joins Australia as Marsh’s replacement

Then Babar, first with veteran all-rounder Shoaib Malik (39) and then with Umar Akmal (39), put Pakistan in a commanding position.

The 22-year-old finished the innings with the top score of 84 off 100 balls, laced with four fours and one six. While doing so, he also equaled Sir Vivian Richards' world record of being the fastest (21 innings) to reach the 1,000-run mark in ODI cricket.

However, Smith's men made a grand comeback in the last 10 overs as they gave away just 50 runs and picked up three wickets.

Afridi asks Chappell: 'Did you watch' Pakistan beat Australia?

For the Kangaroos, pacer Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers as he claimed three wickets, whereas part-time off-spinner Travis Head dismissed two batsmen.

Presentation: 

Mohammad Hafeez: We missed the opportunity, where we had the platform to score more than 300, but we couldn’t. After a couple of overs, we realized the pitch is of more than 300. This is how the game goes on. We missed chances in the field which cost us in the end. Everyone must lift themselves up. The next two venues suits us and our bowling more and we are hopeful of better results.

Steve Smith: It worked out pretty well. We bowled pretty well to restrict them to 260 odd. It was more like 320 pitch. Bit of luck always helps. But he [Peter Handscomb] is batting really nicely. I love batting at the WACA, and I love getting big runs. Today I think we have put reasonable performance, and hopefully we will carry it on in Sydney in the next match as well.



AUS 265-3 (45 overs)

FOUR! Australia win by seven wickets.

Junaid Khan to start his new spell.



AUS 260-3 (44 overs)

Nine off the over. Australia are just a boundary away from going 2-1 up in the five-match series.

FOUR! Short and Smith pulls one pass deep square leg for another boundary.

Hasan Ali to continue.



AUS 251-3 (43 overs)

Just four off Amir's last over, who finished with figures of  10-0-36-1.

FOUR! Short and Head hits one pass fine leg for a boundary.

Amir to continue.



AUS 247-3 (42 overs)

Eight off the over. Australia need 17 off eight over.

Hasan Ali to start his new over.



AUS 239-3 (41 overs)

Six off the over.

FOUR! Full and Head hits one past mid-on

Mohammad Amir to start his new over.



AUS 233-3 (40 overs)

Five and a wicket off the over.

Hasan Ali to start his new spell.



AUS 228-2 (39 overs)

Eight off the over.

Mohammad Amir to start his new spell.



AUS 220-2 (38 overs)

13 off the over. Great one for the hosts.

FOUR! This time past slips for the third boundary of the over.

FOUR! Lucky, very lucky for Handscomb once again.

Hasan Ali to start his new spell.



AUS 207-2 (37 overs)

11 off the over. It seems like nothing is stopping Smith and Handscomb now.

FOUR! Short and Smith edged one over fine leg for another boundary.

Junaid Khan to start his new over.



AUS 196-2 (36 overs)

Eight off the over. Australia now need just 67 off 84 balls.

Imad Wasim to continue.



AUS 188-2 (35 overs)

11 off the over. Seems like this will over very soon.

Junaid Khan to start his new spell.



AUS 177-2 (34 overs)

Seven off the over. Australia is on a roll.

Imad Wasim to continue.



AUS 170-2 (33 overs)

Eight off Malik's second. Another expensive one for the visitors.

Shoaib Malik to start his second over. 



AUS 162-2 (32 overs)

Seven off the over.

Imad Wasim to continue.



AUS 155-2 (31 overs)

10 runs off Malik's first over. A expensive start for the veteran all-rounder.

Shoaib Malik to start his first over. 



AUS 145-2 (30 overs)

Six off the over.

Imad Wasim to continue.



AUS 139-2 (29 overs)

Seven off the over. A good one for Australia.

Hasan Ali to start his new over.



AUS 132-2 (28 overs)

Five off the over.

Imad to continue.



AUS 127-2 (27 overs)

Just two off the over.

Hasan Ali to start his new spell.



AUS 125-2 (26 overs)

Seven off the over. A good one for Australia.

Imad Wasim to start his new over.



AUS 118-2 (25 overs)

Eight off the over, a good one for Australia.

Mohammad Hafeez to start his new over.



AUS 110-2 (24 overs)

Just five off the over.

Imad Wasim to start his new spell.



AUS 105-2 (23 overs)

Just three off the over.



AUS 102-2 (22 overs)

Six off the over.

Hasan Ali to continue.



AUS 96-2 (21 overs)

10 off the over. Another good one for Australia.

Mohammad Hafeez to start his new over.



AUS 86-2 (20 overs)

Seven off the over. A good one for Pakistan.

Hasan Ali to continue.



AUS 79-2 (19 overs)

A maiden off Hafeez's third over.

Mohammad Hafeez to start his new spell.



AUS 79-2 (18 overs)

Just five off Hasan Ali's second over.

Hasan Ali to start his second over of the day.



AUS 74-2 (17 overs)

12 off Imad's first over.

FOUR! Seems like Smith has a plan for Imad Wasim today.

Imad Wasim to start his first over of the day.



AUS 61-2 (16 overs)

Just two off Hasan Ali's first over.

Hasan Ali to replace Mohammad Amir.



AUS 59-2 (15 overs)

Just two off the over. Brilliant over from Junaid Khan as well.

Junaid Khan to continue.



AUS 57-2 (14 overs)

Just three off the over. Brilliant bowling once again.

Amir to start his seventh and surely last over of the spell.



AUS 54-2 (13 overs)

Just two off the over. Brilliant over from Junaid Khan as well.

Junaid Khan to continue.



AUS 52-2 (12 overs)

Just a single off the over. Brilliant bowling.

Amir to start his sixth and probably last over of the spell.



AUS 51-2 (11 overs)

Six runs, but there could've been a wicket. Big event in the context of the match.

Junaid Khan to continue.



AUS 45-2 (10 overs)

Mohammad Amir to continue.



AUS 44-1 (9 overs)

Six and a wicket off the over. A good one for Pakistan.

Junaid Khan to continue.



AUS 38-0 (8 overs)

Just three off the over. Another excellent one from Amir, who continue to trouble David Warner.

Mohammad Amir to continue.



AUS 35-0 (7 overs)

Just five off the over. A good come back from Junaid.

Junaid Khan to start his second over.



AUS 30-0 (6 overs)

Just one run off the over. Amir was simply on fire in his over.

Mohammad Amir to continue.



AUS 29-0 (5 overs)

11 runs off the over. A very average for Junaid Khan.

Junaid Khan to start his first over of the day.



AUS 18-0 (4 overs)

Seven runs off the over, a good one for Australia.

Mohammad Amir to start his second over.



AUS 11-0 (3 overs)

Just four off the over.

Mohammad Hafeez to start his second over



AUS 7-0 (2 overs)

Just two runs off the over. Good start from Amir.

Mohammad Amir to start his first over.



AUS 5-0 (1 over)

Just five off the first over. Good start for Pakistan.

FOUR! Short and cut from Warner for a boundary.

Mohammad Hafeez to start his first over.



So we are back with live action, as Mohammad Hafeez is set start bowling for Pakistan, whereas David Warner and Usman Khawaja will begin for Australia.



So that's it every one. We are taking a half-an-hour break, and we will be back with all the live action once the match resumes.



PAK 263-7 (50 overs)

Just six off the last over, and Pakistan managed to score just 50 runs in last 10 overs. Extremely disappointing for the visitors.

James Faulkner to start the last over of the innings.



PAK 257-7 (49 overs)

Just seven off it. An excellent finish for Cummins who finished with figures of 10-1-42-1.

Pat Cummins to start his last over.




PAK 250-7 (48 overs)

Just two off the over. A great finish for Hazlewood, who finished with the figures of 10-0-32-3.

Josh Hazlewood to continue.



PAK 248-7 (47 overs)

Just two runs a wicket off the over. Another excellent one by Cummins.

Pat Cummins to start his new over.



PAK 246-6 (46 overs)

Just four and a wicket off the over.

Josh Hazlewood to continue.



PAK 242-5 (45 overs)

Seven off the over. A good one for Australia

Pat Cummins to start his new spell.



PAK 235-5 (44 overs)

Nine runs off the over. A good one for Pakistan.

James Faulkner to start his new over.



PAK 226-5 (43 overs)

Just four off the over, and extremely poor running from Umar Akmal.

Josh Hazlewood to start his new over.


PAK 222-4 (42 overs)

Just six off the over. Another good over for Australia.

James Faulkner to start his new over.



PAK 216-4 (41 overs)

Just three off the over. Excellent start from Hazlewood.

Josh Hazlewood to start his new spell.



PAK 213-4 (40 overs)

Nine off the over, another good over for Pakistan.

James Faulkner to start his new over.



PAK 204-4 (39 overs)

Four off the over. A good one for the hosts as they look to restrict Pakistan under 300.

Pat Cummins to start his new over.



PAK 200-4 (38 overs)

Five off the over. A good one for Australia.

James Faulkner to start his new spell.



PAK 195-4 (37 overs)

Just two off the over.

Pat Cummins to start his new spell.



PAK 193-4 (36 overs)

Nine off Head's last over of the innings. He finished with the figures of 10-0-65-2.

Travis Head to start his last over of the day.



PAK 184-4 (35 overs)

Six off the over. Stanlake finishes with the figures of

10-1-55-1.

Stanlake to start his last over of the day.



PAK 178-4 (34 overs)

Five off the over.

Travis Head to start his new over.



PAK 173-4 (33 overs)

Six off the over. A good one for Pakistan.

Stanlake to continue.



PAK 167-4 (32 overs)

Five off the over.

Travis Head to start his new spell.



PAK 162-4 (31 overs)

Just two runs and a wicket off the over.

Billy Stanlake to start his new over.



PAK 160-3 (30 overs)

Seven off the over, a good one for Pakistan once again.

James Faulkner to start his new over.



PAK 153-3 (29 overs)

Eight off the over, a good one for Pakistan.

Billy Stanlake to start his new spell.



PAK 145-3 (28 overs)

Just five off the over

James Faulkner to start his new spell.



PAK 140-3 (27 overs)

Just two off the over, a good one for Australia.

Josh Hazlewood to continue.



PAK 138-3 (26 overs)

11 off the over, a good one for Pakistan.

Travis Head to continue.



PAK 127-3 (25 overs)

Just three off the over.

Josh Hazlewood to start his new spell.



PAK 124-3 (24 overs)

10 off the over, a good one for Pakistan.

Travis Head to continue.



PAK 114-3 (23 overs)

Six off the over.

James Faulkner to continue.



PAK 108-3 (22 overs)

Just four off the over.

Travis Head to continue.



PAK 104-3 (21 overs)

Five off the over.

James Faulkner to continue.



PAK 99-3 (20 overs)

Just two runs and a wicket off the over. Another poor outing for Asad Shafiq in the ODI format.

Travis Head to continue.



PAK 97-2 (19 overs)

Six off the over.

James Faulkner to start his first over of the day.



PAK 91-2 (18 overs)

Just two off the over.

Travis Head to continue.



PAK 89-2 (17 overs)

Four off the over.

Pat Cummins to continue.



PAK 85-2 (16 overs)

OUT! And Sharjeel departs after scoring a good half-century for his team. Head gets his man after an expensive over.

FOUR! Short once again and this time Sharjeel pulls one through cow corner for another boundary.

FOUR! Short and Sharjeel cuts one through deep backward point for a boundary.

Travis Head to continue.



PAK 72-1 (15 overs)

Seven off the over, a good one for Pakistan.

Pat Cummins to continue.



PAK 65-1 (14 overs)

So four off Head's first over.

So it's some spin time. Travis Head into attack in place of Billy Stanlake.



PAK 61-1 (13 overs)

Just two off the over.

Pat Cummins to continue.



PAK 59-1 (12 overs)

Just two off the over.

Billy Stanlake to continue.



PAK 57-1 (11 overs)

Seven off the over. A good one for Pakistan.

Pat Cummins to continue.



PAK 50-1 (10 overs)

Just three off the over.

Billy Stanlake to continue.



PAK 47-1 (9 overs)

Just one off the over. A good start for Cummins.

Pat Cummins to replace Hazlewood to start his first over of the day.



PAK 46-1 (8 overs)

Just one off the over.

Billy Stanlake to continue.



PAK 45-1 (7 overs)

Just two off the over.

Hazlewood to continue.



PAK 43-1 (6 overs)

Billy Stanlake to continue.



PAK 43-1 (5 overs)

Seven runs and a wicket off the over.

FOUR! Brilliant start from Babar Azam, he looks on song.

Hazlewood to continue.



PAK 36-0 (4 overs)

20 off the over, a great one for Pakistan.

Billy Stanlake to continue.



PAK 16-0 (3 overs)

Seven off the over, another good one for Pakistan.

Hazlewood to continue.



PAK 9-0 (2 overs)

Seven off the over, a good one for Pakistan and a bad start for Stanlake.

Billy Stanlake to bowl his first over.


PAK 2-0 (1 over)

Just two off the first over.

Josh Hazlewood to bowl his first over.



So it's captain Mohammad Hafeez and Sharjeel Khan to open for Pakistan, whereas it's Josh Hazlewood to start for Australia.

TOSS: Australia won the toss and opt to bowl first against Pakistan.