Aussies trounce lacklustre Pakistan

SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 07: Umar Akmal of Pakistan bats as Brad Haddin of Australia looks on during the first match of the one day international series between Australia and Pakistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 7, 2014 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

SHARJAH, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 07: Umar Akmal of Pakistan bats as Brad Haddin of Australia looks on during the first match of the one day international series between Australia and Pakistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium on October 7, 2014 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Published Oct 7, 2014

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Dubai - Steven Smith scored a maiden one day hundred while paceman Mitchell Johnson took three wickets to help Australia beat Pakistan by 93 runs in the first day-night international on Tuesday.

Smith, who had never scored a half-century in one-day games before, managed a sedate 118-ball 101 to guide Australia to a challenging 255-8 before bowlers exposed Pakistan's fragile batting to bowl them out for 162 in 36.3 overs at Sharjah stadium.

Johnson (3-24) combined with off-spinners Glenn Maxwell (2-29) and Nathan Lyon (2-33) bowled with venom and guile to derail Pakistan's chase for Australia's 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Only Umar Akmal 46 and Sarfraz Ahmed (34) offered some resistance in a poor batting display.

Pakistan lost opener Ahmed Shahzad early for four but make-shift opener Ahmed and Asad Shafiq (13) put on 50 for the second wicket before Pakistan lost three wickets for just four runs.

Lyon had Sarfraz caught behind off a miscued sweep and the next ball had Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul Haq, playing in his 150th one day international, caught at leg-slip by a diving David Warner.

Johnson, who had recovered fully from a rib injury, then had Shafiq off a rising delivery to leave Pakistan reeling at 63-4.

Akmal and Fawad Alam (seven) were all at sea against some vicious spin from Lyon as runs were hard to come by.

As the pressure built up Alam fell to Glenn Maxwell while Shahid Afridi made just five before holing out off Sean Abbott.

Allrounder Anwar Ali made just eight before being caught by Brad Haddin off Johnson to cap a good return for the bowler.

It was Smith who helped Australia recover from a poor start in an innings studded with six boundaries and two sixes.

Smith walked in as early as the second ball of the match when opener Aaron Finch's casual shot off lanky paceman Mohammad Irfan saw him caught at point.

Smith consolidated the innings with an 86-run second wicket stand with Warner (43) and another 37 with skipper George Bailey (18) for the third wicket.

Warner fell to Afridi while Bailey holed out to part-time spinner Alam.

Dashing all-rounder Maxwell (21) failed to take advantage of two dropped catches as he gave away his wicket to debutant spinner Zulfiqar Babar.

Afridi was the best Pakistani bowler with 3-46, after going wicket-less in his last six matches.

Smith too holed out off Afridi in the 45th over, leaving Haddin (23 not out) and Johnson (21) to add the final touches.

Smith's previous best of 46 not out came against England at Adelaide in 2011.

The second match will be in Dubai on Friday followed by the third in Abu Dhabi on October 12. The one-days will be followed by two Tests.

Sapa-AFP

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