Cricket: Australia plunder 284-run partnership in ODI

David Warner and Travis Head of Australia. Photo / Getty

David Warner and Travis Head have set an Australian record opening partnership while plundering Pakistan in Thursday's one-dayer in Adelaide.

The pair put on 284 - only two runs shy of equalling the world record - as Australia posted an imposing 369-7, the nation's seventh-highest total in ODI history.

Warner cracked 179, his highest ODI score, falling just short of the highest individual one-day score by an Australian - Shane Watson's 185 not out against Bangladesh in 2011.

Head made 128 from 136 balls, his first ODI ton.

The pair's partnership eclipsed the previous Australian ODI opening benchmark of 246 by Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh against minnows Scotland in 2013, and it was the second-highest ODI opening stand ever.

Warner was dismissed within sight of the world record opening ODI partnership of 286 set by Sri Lankans Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga against England in 2006.

Warner's 127-ball knock featured 19 fours and five sixes and was his sixth century from his past 11 one-dayers, while Head only opened the innings because the hosts rested Usman Khawaja, selecting allrounder James Faulkner instead.

Australia entered the last game of the five-match series with a 3-1 lead and Warner was dropped first ball - captain Azhar Ali just got fingertips to a tough chance when diving high and wide at second slip.

From then, Warner carved the Pakistani bowlers to reach his ton from 78 balls - the same amount of deliveries it took Head to post a half-century.

South Australian Head, before his home crowd, was composed throughout and posted his maiden ODI century from 123 balls before being dismissed in the 47th over.

-AAP