Hayden inspires Australia
rout of Pakistan

Matthew Hayden scored faster than a run a ball to lash 146 and Jason Gillespie took five for 22 as Australia crushed Pakistan by 224 runs in the second match of a triangular tournament in Nairobi, Kenya.

Pakistan won the toss but little else all day as Australia amassed 332 for five, Hayden's innings coming off 128 balls, to set his side up for the fourth biggest winning run margin in one-day international history.

Strike bowler Gillespie then took wickets with his second and fourth balls -- opener Imran Nazir caught for a single by wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, and Shahid Afridi for a duck -- to send Pakistan slumping to 13 for four by the seventh over.

None of the top four made more than five as Pakistan were dismissed for 108 in 36 overs.

"We didn't expect such a sensational victory," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said. "It is surprising because we thought we would have to work hard.

"Pakistan bowled too many lose balls. They did not have a good day."

Hayden said patience had paid off for him.

"I was patient and just wanted to bat for as long as I would stay on and let the scoreboard take care of itself," he said, with a grin. "We are here to improve our cricket and play like professionals."

Pakistan captain Waqar Younis was gracious in defeat.

"It was a disastrous game for us," he said. "We bowled poorly, batted and fielded poorly. We gave away far too many extras. I thought winning the toss was good for us but we just couldn't put the ball in the right place."

After Gillespie's early burst, Glenn McGrath continued the procession as Abdur Razzaq returned to the pavilion for five, clean bowled, and Saeed Anwar followed for three off 13 balls after being trapped lbw.

Gillespie returned with the last three wickets of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Shoaib Akhtar, the final man falling to the last ball of his 10th and final over.

All-rounder Azhar Mahmood top-scored with 32.

Earlier, the 31-year-old left-handed Hayden cemented his new opening role with a devastating display of hitting in an innings including six sixes and 12 fours.

Ponting scored 50 off 57 balls, which included five fours and two sixes, in putting on 128 with Hayden for the second wicket.

Hayden, previously seen as a Test specialist but who displaced Mark Waugh in the one-day side, had his most productive spell in the 44th over when he struck 21 off strike bowler Shoaib Akhtar, including a towering six and three fours.

Hayden was finally caught at long on by Shoaib Malik off Wasim. His score was just eight runs short of Gilchrist's record one-day score for Australia of 154. Shoaib's five overs cost 45 runs.

Kenya, the third side in the tournament, lost to Pakistan on Thursday.

Mail Cricket Editor