Travis Head hits century as Australia beat Pakistan in first ODI

Travis Head hit a blistering century and leg-spinner Adam Zampa grabbed 4-38 to lift Australia to an 88-run victory over Pakistan in the first ODI on Tuesday.

Head hammered 101 off 72 balls and propelled Australia to an impressive 313-7 after they were left with only 13 fit players hours before the start of the three-match series.

Opening batter Imam-ul-Haq made 103 off 93 balls – his eighth ODI hundred – and captain Babar Azam laboured for 72 deliveries to get 57 before second-string Australia bowled out Pakistan for 225 in 45.2 overs.

Imam and Babar struggled to pace the chase in a 96-run second wicket stand before leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson had him trapped leg before wicket in the 25th over.

Babar became the second fastest batter in ODIs to complete 4,000 runs, doing it in 82 innings, behind South African Hashim Amla (81 innings) but never looked to threaten the Australia total as the Pakistan skipper could hit only six boundaries.

Zampa and Head, who picked up 2-35 with his off spin bowling, then ran through the middle and lower order on a wicket which offered plenty of turn to the spinners.

Imam hit six boundaries and three sixes before he was clean bowled by debutant fast bowler Nathan Ellis in the 38th over as Zampa wrapped up the tail quickly through his sharp googlies and leg spin.

With several leading Australian players being rested for the white-ball series in Pakistan, Ashton Agar was ruled out hours before the toss on Tuesday after testing positive for Covid-19. Josh Inglis had been ruled out Monday when the wicketkeeper-batter was also tested positive.

Head provided Australia a strong platform with his blistering hundred off 70 balls – the left-handed batter’s second ODI century against Pakistan after