Captain Pat Cummins remained calm under pressure, scoring an unbeaten 32 to guide Australia to a tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first of three ODIs on Monday.
Chasing a target of 204, Australia reached the goal with 99 balls remaining at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, overcoming a scare when they lost three wickets in the span of five deliveries.
“It was a fantastic match, though it got a bit closer than I’d have preferred,” Cummins commented.
With regular openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head on paternity leave, Australia fielded a fresh opening pair in Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short. However, Short fell after just four balls, edging Shaheen Shah Afridi to Saim Ayub, while Fraser-McGurk’s innings ended at 16, caught by Irfan Khan off Naseem Shah at mid-on.
Veteran Steve Smith stabilized the innings alongside Josh Inglis, contributing an 85-run partnership for the third wicket. Smith was eventually dismissed for 44 by Haris Rauf, caught by Ayub at backward point. Inglis soon followed, falling for 49 in a big-hitting attempt off Afridi, caught low by Khan.
Rauf then quickly took out Marnus Labuschagne (16) and Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck, leaving Australia struggling at 139-6.
Mohammad Hasnain dismissed Aaron Hardie for 10, and a careless run-out ended Sean Abbott’s innings on 13, leaving Australia needing 19 runs with just two wickets in hand. Cummins, alongside Mitchell Starc (who scored two), managed to secure the win.
Cummins praised his bowlers, saying, “Really happy with how the team bowled; everyone executed their roles well. We just need to work on building partnerships in the batting lineup.”
Earlier, Starc had taken 3-33 as Pakistan was bowled out for 203. Newly appointed captain Mohammad Rizwan led with a top score of 44, but Pakistan struggled against Australia’s precise bowling, getting bowled out in the 47th over after being sent in to bat.
Rizwan commented, “Facing strong teams like Australia is essential for us. We decided to fight hard, regardless of the situation. Luck favored Australia this time, which is why they won.”
In Pakistan’s first ODI since the World Cup, Starc struck early, dismissing Ayub in the third over. Babar Azam joined Rizwan at the crease, picking up the pace before Starc removed Abdullah Shafique for 12, caught behind.
Azam and Rizwan shared a 39-run stand before spinner Adam Zampa bowled Azam for 37 with his fourth delivery. Kamran Ghulam, who replaced Azam, couldn’t handle a fierce Cummins bouncer and was caught by Inglis after just six balls, leaving Pakistan struggling at 70-4.
Rizwan showed patience, but wickets continued to fall. Salman Agha was caught by Short for 12 off Abbott’s bowling, and Rizwan departed soon after, attempting a sweep against part-time spinner Labuschagne.
Afridi provided some late entertainment with a quick 24 before Starc rattled his stumps. A final burst by Shadab Khan, who added a brisk 40, gave Pakistan a modest total but ultimately fell short.
