Ton-up Rizwan guides Pakistan to 284-7 in second ODI

SHARJAH: Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan scored a brilliant 115 off 126 balls with 11 fours to steer Pakistan to 284 runs for seven wickets in the second One-day International against Australia here at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan lost opener Imam-ul-Haq in the very first over when he was bowled by fast bowler Jhye Richardson without making any score.

Later, Richardson struck again to dismiss other opener Shan Masood when scored reached 35. He got him caught by Shaun Marsh for 19 runs.

Then Haris Sohail, the centurion of the first ODI and Rizwan came together to add 52 runs for the third wicket stand before Haris was caught behind by Alex Carey off left-arm spinner Aaron Finch for 34.

Umar Akmal also played a brief innings of 16 runs and was caught by Glenn Maxwell off fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile.

Skipper Shoaib Malik joined Rizwan and both took the score from 112 to 239 when Maxwell took his second catch in the innings to dismiss Malik off the bowling of leg-spinner Adam Zampa for a brisk 60 from 61 balls. Malik and Rizwan added 127 runs for the fifth wicket stand.

Meanwhile, Rizwan completed his maiden hundred in his 29 th ODI. Later, he also departed when Maxwell took his third catch to give Coulter-Nile his second wicket.

Faheem Ashraf made 14 from as many balls before Imad Wasim (19) and Yasir Shah (1) helped their team to set a daunting target of 285 for the Aussies. Both batsmen remained not out.