But Australia, led by White, prevailed with five wickets and nine balls to spare. White's 105 off 88 was more crass than class, three consecutive sixes putting Afridi back in his box, perfect complement to Michael Clarke's measured contribution in a match-winning 102-run partnership.
Clarke's 58 was more class than crass, 40 selfless singles giving White all the strike he was craving. Captain Ricky Ponting was full of praise for White. "It was a magnificent innings. I said to him, 'that's the best I've ever seen you bat.' He showed a lot of maturity."
The crowd was only 19,758, a terrible turnout in a 40,000-seat stadium, the fewest spectators for an international one-dayer at the Gabba since venue was rebuilt in 1998. And at close of business Friday, only 17,500 tickets had been sold for Sunday night's second encounter in Sydney. Pakistan made whirlwind start after Kamran Akmal, the of worst-wicketkeeping -in-cricket-history fame from Sydney Test, repaid selectors faith in a sizzling 62-run opening stand with Salman Butt.
But Shane Watson and Nathan Hauritz stemmed the flow. Watson's claim to being world's best all-rounder becomes stronger with every match. He finished with a career-best 4-36.
Afridi was an excitement machine, striding to crease and thumping his first ball to mid-wicket. It wouldn't be his last stroke directed towards cow corner and soon enough a slog off Hauritz sailed over the fence. Two more sixes followed. His effervescence, combativeness and skill threatened to make the match his own until Clarke teased him and White pummelled him. Ponting belted one imperious pull shot but fell to Afridi's leg spinners for 27. Australia were 3-84 and in dire straits until Clarke and White combined.
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Scoreboard Pakistan innings:
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Salman Butt c Haddin b Bollinger 72
Kamran Akmal c Clarke b Watson 34
Younis Khan c Marsh b McKay 46
Mohammad Yousuf* b Bollinger 2
Umar Akmal c Haddin b McKay 23
Shoaib Malik c Haddin b Watson 28
Shahid Afridi c Hussey b Watson 48
Mohammad Aamer c Haddin b McKay 0
Naved-ul-Hasan not out 8
Saeed Ajmal c Clarke b Watson 2
Mohammad Asif run out (Ponting) 0
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Extras: (lb 4, w 5, nb 2) 11
Total: (all out; 49.4 overs; 217 mins) 274
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Fall of wickets: 1-62, 2-117, 3-123, 4-156, 5-205, 6-221, 7-227, 8-269, 9-274, 10-274
Bowling: DE Bollinger 9.4-0-37-2; PM Siddle 8-1-48-0; CJ McKay 9-0-61-3; SR Watson 10-0-36-4; NM Hauritz 9-0-68-0; MJ Clarke 2-0-8-0; MEK Hussey 2-0-12-0
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Australia innings:
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SR Watson c Ajmal b Aamer 5
SE Marsh c Naved-ul-Hasan b Asif 15
RT Ponting c sub (K Latif) b Afridi 27
MJ Clarke run out (Naved-ul-Hasan) 58
CL White b Naved-ul-Hasan 105
MEK Hussey not out 35
BJ Haddin not out 7
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Extras: (b 4, lb 10, w 9) 23
Total: (5 wickets; 48.3 overs; 203 mins) 275
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Did not bat: NM Hauritz, CJ McKay, PM Siddle, DE Bollinger
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-37, 3-84, 4-186, 5-260
Bowling: Mohammad Asif 10-1-44-1; Mohammad Aamer 9-0-29-1; Naved-ul-Hasan 10- 0-61-1; Shahid Afridi 10-0-66-1; Saeed Ajmal 9-3-0-61-0
Player of the match: CL White (Australia)
Umpires: EAR de Silva (Sri Lanka) and RJ Tucker
TV umpire: PR Reiffel
Match referee: RS Madugalle (Sri Lanka).