Pakistan batsman Babar Azam bounced back to form, as the tourists completed a 196-run defeat of a youthful Cricket Australia XI on Tuesday in Brisbane.
In the team’s only warm-up fixture ahead of the five-match one-day international series against Australia, Babar topped the scoreboard with a 113-ball 98 that included 12 boundaries, as Pakistan piled on 7-334 from its 50 overs.
Albeit against an inexperienced team, his runs could not have come at a better time for the number three after averaging just 11.33 across his six Test innings in Australia.
Opener Sharjeel Khan (62) and wicketkeeper Umar Akmal (54) also blasted half-centuries before they were each dismissed after 39 balls, while veteran Shoaib Malik struck 49 from 60 balls.
Paceman Hasan Ali then took 3-18 off 6.2 overs, as the visitors comfortably ran through the home side at Allan Border Field.
Shoaib (2-20) and spinner Imad Wasim (2-23) also claimed two wickets apiece to round out the win.
Western Australia wicketkeeper Josh Inglis provided the only real defiance for the inexperienced CA XI, smashing 70 off 64 balls, before they were dismissed in the 37th over for 138.
Pakistan will be without paceman Mohammad Irfan in the one-day series after his return home following the death of his mother.
Left-arm quick Junaid Khan will replace him, selected after impressive performances in the Bangladesh Premier League and Pakistan’s domestic competition.
Australia meets Pakistan in the opening one-day match at the Gabba on Friday.
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CA XI: Travis Dean, Will Pucovski, Sam Raphael, Will Bosisto (c), Jason Sangha, Josh Inglis (wk), Clint Hinchcliffe, Will Sutherland, Cameron Green, Henry Thornton, Riley Meredith. Lloyd Pope (12th)
Pakistan ODI squad: Azhar Ali (c), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Sarfraz Ahmed, Mohammad Hafeez, Junaid Khan.
Read more: Pakistan squad arrives in Brisbane for ODI series against Australia
