Close Australia 177 for 3 (Gilchrist 56, Hayden 45) beat Pakistan 176 for 8 (Imran Nazir 39*, Bichel 3-30) by 7 wickets
scorecard

Adam Gilchrist's quickfire 56 sparked Australia to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first of three one-day internationals. Pakistan made just 176 for 8 from their 50 overs, a target Australia reached with 17.1 overs to spare, making 177 for 3. Australia's openers, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden, saw off Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis and then went on the attack, reaching their hundred partnership in the 16th over. Gilchrist, whose brought up his half-century off 42 deliveries, fell for 56, which included nine fours, when caught by Inzamam-ul-Haq off Mohammad Sami.

Hayden, unbeaten on 37, was joined by Ricky Ponting but the run-rate fell back as Sami - whose first three overs went for 25 runs - found his line and length. Hayden was caught at square leg by Shoaib Malik for 45 and then the introduction of Shahid Afridi resulted in Ponting's dismissal for 13, caught behind by Rashid Latif. The Australians had slipped to 127 for 3 but by this time they were cruising.

Earlier, Ponting won the toss and elected to field. Some tight bowling limited the scoring opportunities for Pakistan, who showed a lack of urgency in running between the wickets. Pakistan's opener Imran Nazir, who retired hurt with a forearm injury when struck by a Glenn McGrath delivery when he was on 5, returned to top-score with 39 from 53 balls. He hit a series of meaty drives late in the innings while Inzamam contributed 33.

Andy Bichel was the most effective of the Australian bowlers, finishing with 3 for 30 from his 10 overs. Wicketkeeper Gilchrist took four catches and claimed a stumping.

Although the match was being played indoors, appalling weather kept the crowd under 12,000, a far cry from the 50,000+ crowd who had watched the first indoor match at the Colonial Stadium in 2000.

This series had been billed as the pace showdown between Australia's Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar, but neither played today. Lee was named 12th man for Australia, while Akhtar was ruled out of Pakistan's team with a hip injury.

The second match of the series will also be played at Melbourne's Colonial Stadium on Saturday (June 15), with the third match at the Gabba in Brisbane next Wednesday (June 19).

Teams
Pakistan Shahid Afridi, Imran Nazir, Yousuf Youhana, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Younis Khan, Azhar Mahmood, Rashid Latif (wk), Wasim Akram, Shoaib Malik, Waqar Younis (capt), Mohammad Sami.

Australia Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Shane Watson, Shane Warne, Andrew Bichel, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.

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