Sharjah: A record opening stand by centurion Aaron Finch and Usman Khawaja fired Australia to an eight-wicket win over Pakistan in the second one-day international in Sharjah on Sunday but the victory was soured by an injury to seamer Jhye Richardson.
Finch, who hit 116 in the first game, posted a career-best unbeaten 153, including 11 boundaries and six sixes, while Khawaja missed out on his third century of the month, scoring a patient 88 off 109 as Australia took a 2-0 series lead.
Pakistan won the toss and skipper Shoaib Malik elected to bat first, setting Australia a target of 285 to win, anchored by Mohamed Rizwan’s maiden ODI century.
Finch and Khawaja put on 209, a record opening stand for Australia while chasing in ODIs, bettering Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist’s 206 against West Indies in 2001.
While resurgent Australia celebrated a fifth successive win in the format as they continued to build confidence ahead of their World Cup defence in England, it was a bleak day for young paceman Richardson.
The 22-year-old, considered a certainty for Australia’s World Cup squad, completed only half his quota of overs before he was forced off the field, having dislocated his bowling shoulder when trying to save a boundary.
He had taken two early wickets but sat out the match with his arm in a sling and was to be sent home immediately for scans, the team said.
Khawaja said the bowler’s shoulder went “back in pretty easily” which was “always a good sign”.
But spinner Nathan Lyon said he was “obviously pretty shattered. The way he’s been performing has been pretty impressive. Fingers crossed he can be fit for the World Cup and be in the selection (mix) there.”
INJURED QUICKS
With injured regular quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood already racing to be fit for the World Cup, Australia can ill afford more casualties. — Reuters
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