Gilchrist steals show as Pakistan are crushed

Adam Gilchrist smashed 56 in an opening stand of 101 as Australia reached their target of 177 against Pakistan with a massive 17.1 overs to spare to win the first one-day international on Wednesday.

Gilchrist struck nine boundaries in his 47-ball innings before he was caught at third man in the 16th over.

Fellow left-hander Matthew Hayden fell for 45, six overs later at 121 for two before Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn shared an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 50.

Australia had won the toss and sent Pakistan in to bat in the first game of the three-match series, restricting them to 176 for eight from 50 overs.

Pace bowler Andrew Bichel put Australia in control by taking three for 30, dismissing Inzamam-ul-Haq, Azhar Mahmood and Younis Khan in the 19th, 23rd and 25th overs as Pakistan slumped from 71 for two to 78 for five.

Opener Imran Nazir, who retired hurt for five in the fifth over after being struck on the forearm, returned to make a fighting 39 not out from 53 balls.

The only batsman to show any early resistance was Inzamam, who scored 33 off 42 balls to pass Australia's Mark Waugh as the fourth highest run-scorer in one-day cricket.

The second match of the series will be played at Melbourne's Docklands Stadium on Saturday with the third in Brisbane on June 19.

Also read: Inzy becomes fourth-leading run-scorer

Mail Cricket Editor