Litchfield, Lanning star in opening ODI victory

Comeback kid Meg Lanning and teen sensation Phoebe Litchfield have combined to lead Australia to an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first Commbank ODI at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field.

Lanning, returning from a six-month break, and Litchfield, the 19-year-old on ODI debut, shared in a 137-run second-wicket stand as Australia reeled in their revised target of 158 in 29 overs.

Litchfield became the first Australian teenager to hit an ODI half-century on debut as she finished unbeaten on 78 from 92 deliveries, while Lanning – who declared herself refreshed and hungry to dominate leading into the game – impressed in her 76-ball 67.

Sent in by the Australians, Pakistan made tough work of a reduced 40 overs, as spinners Jess Jonassen (2-23), Ashleigh Gardner (1-15) and Alana King (1-21) helped restrict the tourists to 8-160.

Litchfield, fresh off being handed Australia ODI cap No.148 by opening partner Beth Mooney, was watchful early but as she settled, started to show the fluent stroke play that had her earmarked as the ‘next big thing’ aged 16.

She reached her first international half-century off 71 balls, bringing up the milestone with a late cut for four.

The 19-year-old left-hander, who memorably scored a WBBL fifty in just her second game in 2019, went one better on Monday as she became the eighth Australian woman to hit a fifty on ODI debut, and at 19 years 273 days, the youngest of that cohort.

At the other end, Lanning – playing her first game in the green and gold since taking a six-month break from cricket – was dropped on six and likewise took her time to get going before finding her groove.

She passed 4500 one-day runs during her way to a 62-ball half-century before she was caught behind on 67 with Australia 19 runs shy of victory.

Undeterred, Litchfield flicked the switch, smacking back-to-back fours then a six off Omaima Sohail before hitting the winning single that sealed Australia’s 1-0 lead in the three-game series.

Lanning and Litchfield’s 137-run stand came after Diana Baig gave Pakistan a major boost when she had newly installed opener Mooney (1) chopping on in the first over of Australia’s chase.

Earlier, Lanning opted to bowl first after showers delayed, then interrupted play.

Darcie Brown struck in the second over when Muneeba Ali (0) miscued a shot that found the safe hands of a running Annabel Sutherland at mid-wicket.

The South Australian tearaway then had a second when Pakistan’s other opener Sidra Amin (4) spooned a simple return catch to Brown, leaving the tourists 2-19.

Scattered showers delayed play and frustrated several attempted restarts and saw the match reduced to 40 overs a side.

Once the players returned to the field it did not take long for the third wicket to fall, as the introduction of Aussie vice-captain McGrath brought about the wicket of the dangerous Omaima Sohail, caught at point for 12.

Bismah Maroof dug in alongside Dar, and it took a brilliant piece of glovework from stand-in wicketkeeper Mooney to dislodge the in-form Pakistan skipper, who top-scored against the Governor-General’s XI last Friday.

 

Maroof was given out caught behind after edging Ashleigh Gardner down the leg side, with Mooney taking a slick catch and while she sent it upstairs for a review, replays confirmed the on-field call, showing the ball had deflected off glove onto pad before it carried through to the keeper.

Wayward bowling from the quicks, who leaked the majority of Australia’s 27 extras, boosted Pakistan’s total, but the spin trio of King, Gardner and Jonassen ensured it remained tough going for the touring batters.

Mooney remained in the thick of the action, stumping the powerful Aliya Riaz (11) off the bowling of King, before a mix-up in the middle for saw Dar and Kainat Imtiaz (2) left both stranded at the non-strikers end; it required a careful examination from TV umpire who to determine which batter had made their ground first.

 

Fortunately for Pakistan, it was the set batter Dar who survived, with allrounder’s experience and composure showing as she hit five fours and a solitary six in her 88-ball 59.

Australia will look to seal a series win when the teams meet at the same venue on Wednesday..

CommBank ODI Series

Monday Jan 16:Australia won by eight wickets (DLS method)

Wednesday Jan 18:Allan Border Field, Brisbane 11:05am AEDT

Saturday Jan 21:North Sydney Oval, 11:05am AEDT

Buy #AUSvPAK ODI tickets here

Australia ODI squad: Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Kim Garth, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland

Pakistan ODI squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Tuba Hassan