A dominant display from Australia's bowlers was the highlight on Thursday, but skipper Meg Lanning says there's still plenty of room to improve
'Plenty to work on' after ODI win: Lanning
Australia have “plenty to work on” despite drawing first blood in their one-day international series against Pakistan, skipper Meg Lanning says.
A dominant performance from Australia’s bowlers, led by Megan Schutt and Nicola Carey, restricted Pakistan to 95 during a rain-affected first innings.
But it was tougher going for Australia’s batters, who lost five wickets in pursuit of a meagre revised target of 92.
Having had just one warm-up match and only three days to prepare in entirely foreign conditions since their arrival in Malaysia on Sunday, the tricky wicket proved a challenge as all five Australian wickets fell to spin.
After a bright start that saw openers Alyssa Healy and Nicole Bolton reach 0-40 in the eighth over, Healy (26 off 26) misjudged a delivery from left-armer Nashra Sandu that kept low and crashed into the stumps.
Lanning was stumped for 4 after coming down the pitch to off-spinner Sana Mir; the Pakistan veteran collecting another two wickets as she trapped Ellyse Perry (1) lbw and had Bolton (22) miscuing a sweep.
“It wasn’t ideal, we would have loved to have a lost few less wickets,” Lanning reflected following the match.
“It looked a difficult wicket to play, sometimes it was skiddy and sometimes it was holding up a little bit.
“We knew it was going to be a tricky chase and the Pakistan bowlers did really well and were able to peg us down and take wickets.
“It was good to get a win first up, but there’s plenty to learn and hopefully we can do that next game.”
Pleasing for Lanning was the performance of her bowlers, with Schutt and Carey capturing three wickets apiece while debutantes Georgia Wareham (2-22 off five) and Sophie Molineux (1-9 off seven) also impressed.
“I thought our bowlers did a really good job today, they were able to keep the run rate down and get regular wickets,” Lanning said.
“It was a good first outing but plenty to work on which is good.”
For Pakistan captain Javeria Khan, it’s a matter of going back to the drawing board and figuring out a way to counter Australia’s bowling attack when the second ODI gets underway at the same venue on Saturday.
“I knew it was a good toss to win, but you need to bat well," she said.
“We knew anything above 180 would be a good score against their bowling attack but they were quite disciplined with the ball and we threw our wickets away.
“We were not patient enough and maybe we had the wrong execution of shots.”
Australia will have a chance to seize a series victory in Saturday’s second ODI, beginning at 9.30am local time (12.30pm AEDT).
The Pakistan Cricket Board will live stream all ODI and T20I matches throughout the series, while live scores will be available on cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live App.
CommBank Tour of Malaysia
Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
Australia T20 & World T20 squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Nicole Bolton, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy (wk), Jess Jonassen (subject to fitness), Delissa Kimmince, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani, Tayla Vlaeminck, Georgia Wareham
Pakistan ODI/T20 squad: Javeria Khan (c), Bibi Nahida, Ayesha Zafar, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Sidra Amin, Omaima Sohail, Nida Rashid, Sidra Nawaz, Sana Mir, Nashra Sundhu, Anum Amin, Natalia Parvaiz, Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Aiman Anwar
October 18: Australia won the first ODI by five wickets
October 20: Second ODI v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval
October 22: Third ODI v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval
October 25: First T20I v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval
October 27: Second T20I v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval
October 29: Third T20I v Pakistan, Kinrara Academy Oval
2018 ICC Women's World T20
November 9: Australia v Pakistan, Province Stadium, Guyana
November 11: Australia v Ireland, Province Stadium
November 13: Australia v New Zealand, Province Stadium
November 17: Australia v India, Province Stadium
November 22: Semi-finals, Sir Vivian Richards Ground, Antigua
November 24: Final, Sir Vivian Richards Ground