1st ODI: Australia beat Pakistan by five wickets

BRISBANE: A brilliant century from Cameron White helped guide Australia to a five-wicket victory over Pakistan in the opening One-Day International at the Gabba on Friday night.
Scorecard
Set a target of 275, Australia got off to a shaky start when Pakistan snared three early wickets, but White along with vice-captain Michael Clarke helped to restore order with a patient 100-run partnership.Playing his third match of cricket in a week, White matched his best ODI score with a superb knock of 105 that included four sixes and eight fours.
Australia got away to a poor start when opener Shane Watson departed early leaving the home side 16/1 in the fourth over. Shaun Marsh and skipper Ricky Ponting attempted to lift the run-rate but Pakistan struck again when Marsh (15 off 24 balls) drove Mohammad Asif (1-44) straight to Rana Naved-ul-Hasan (1-61) at mid-off.
Positioned at 44/2 after 10 overs, Ponting and vice-captain Michael Clarke set about resurrecting the innings but with Aamer and Asif bowling with their tails up, the task was not easy. Ponting’s innings came to an abrupt end when he slashed at Shahid Afridi’s (1-66) bouncing leg-spinner and found substitute fielder Khalid Latif at gully. Managing just 27 of 47 balls, Ponting departed with the score at 84/3 after 18 overs.
White relieved the pressure, hitting Rana for consecutive fours while Clarke brought up the 100 in the 21st. With Clarke and White looking settled, Australia required 157 runs with seven wickets in hand and 25
overs remaining.