Australia's juggernaut in Pakistan continued to roll on Tuesday as the tourists handed the Babar Azam-led unit an 88-run hammering in the first ODI in Lahore.
Australia didn't have a significant build-up to the series. Apart from not having the services of their entire first-choice pace attack and one of their openers in David Warner, they were left hamstrung after Steven Smith (injury), Kane Richardson (injury), Mitchell Marsh (injury) and Josh Inglis (covid), got ruled out due to a variety of reasons.
However, the enforcement, most notably Travis Head, stepped up big time to admonish a full-strength Pakistan side on their home soil.
The victory was set up by makeshift opener Head, who smashed a scintillating 72-ball hundred (101) to propel Australia to what increasingly looked like a massive score.
Head added 110 runs with Finch (23 off 36 deliveries) in just 14.4 overs before the latter was dismissed by Zahid Mahmood.
Ben McDermott, 55 off 70 deliveries, stepped up in Smith's absence to add another 61 runs in just 10 overs for the 2nd wicket.
However, the duo fell in quick succession, post which Australia's scoring rate dipped as both Marnus Labuschagne (25 off 35 deliveries) and Marcus Stoinis (26 off 42 deliveries) struggled to force the issue against spinners on a slow pitch.
But, Cameron Green's unbeaten 30-ball 40 and a 9-ball 14 from Sean Abbott ensured that Australia finished with 313 in 50 overs.
Needing 314 to win, Pakistan got off to a poor start as they lost an in-form Fakhar Zaman for a run-a-ball 18. After this, Babar (57 off 72 deliveries) and Imam-ul-Haq, who scored a 96-ball 103, buckled down to stitch a 96-run-stand.
Babar and Imam did score their respective 50s and 100s, but their approach during the partnership left a lot to be desired.
They scored just 96 runs off the 118 deliveries they faced during the 2nd wicket partnership, meaning that once they got out, the rest of the batters were always going to be under pressure to force the issue from the first ball. This is exactly what happened. Azam once again perished to a leg-spinner, this time in the form of Mitchell Swepson, which proceeded to open the floodgates.
Pakistan batters had no answer to the spin trio of Zampa, Swepson and Head, who claimed 8 wickets between them.
Following the dismissal of Imam in the 39th over, the home side lost its last four wickets for 21 runs to give Australia their 11th consecutive ODI win over them.
Travis Head was deservedly adjudged the 'Player of the Match' for his all-round performance.
The second game will take place at the same venue on Thursday.
Brief Score:
Australia 7-313 in 50 overs (Travis Head 101 [72], Ben McDermott 55 [70], Cameron Green 40* [30]; Haris Rauf 2/44 [8], Zahid Mahmood 2/59 [10]) beat Pakistan 225 all-out in 45.2 overs (Imam-ul-Haq 101 (96), Babar Azam 57 (72); Adam Zampa 4/38 [10], Travis Head 2/35 [6], Mitchell Swepson 2/53 [8.2]) by 88 runs