Australia claim narrow win over Pakistan despite Abid Ali’s debut ton

SRINAGAR: Australia clinched a dramatic six-run victory over Pakistan on Friday, despite Pakistan debutant Abid Ali and in-form Mohammad Rizwan hitting centuries in the fourth one-day international in Dubai.

Chasing 278 to win, Pakistan were in cruise control with Abid and Rizwan adding 144 runs to take the total to 218-3 before the middle order imploded in familiar fashion.

Ali, whose 112 off 119 balls was Pakistan’s record ODI score on debut at the age of 31, holed out to leg-spinner Adam Zampa.

Umar Akmal and debutant Saad Ali fell for seven each to paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile, who finished with 3-53, while Marcus Stoinis removed Rizwan (104) and Usman Shinwari (six) in the final over to seal Australia’s seventh consecutive ODI win.