Australia down Pakistan in first ODI

Australia registered a close victory against Pakistan in the first ODI thanks to captain Pat Cummins brilliant effort with the bat on Monday in Melbourne.

The Aussies reached the target in the 33.3 overs with two wickets in hand. Cummins was unbeaten on the crease with 32 off 31 deliveries along with Mitchell Starc, who scored just two.

Defending the low total, Pakistani bowlers made a remarkable effort, as they bowled their heart out to restrict Australia.

At one stage, Steve Smith (44) and Josh Inglis (49) took the game away from the visitors with an 85-run stand of just 75 deliveries.

They guided Australia to 113-2 at a rapid pace. When things were looking in favour of Australia, Haris Rauf produced a magical spell, removing Smith, Marnus Labuschagne (16) and Glen Maxwell to reduced Australia to 139-6.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who claimed two wickets in the game, joined the party by removing an in-form Inglis.

However, Sean Abbott (13) and Cummins stable Australia’s ship with a 30-run stand. Abbott was run out when Australia reached 185.

Cummins batted sensibly as he steered Australia though to the winning line.

Earlier, put into bat first, Pakistani batters struggled against a ruthless Australian pace attack and were bowled out for just 203 in the 47th over.

They went off to a shaky start with both openers – Saim Ayub (1) and Abdullah Shaifque (12) – back into the pavilion with 24 runs on the board.

Skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam forged a fighting partnership as they made 39-run contribution for the third wicket.

Babar was bowled by Adam Zampa after he scored 37.

His dismissal triggered a middle-order collapse as Pakistan lost three more wickets in quick succession, including that of their captain Rizwan, and thus slipped to 117/6 in 31.4 overs.

Rizwan was the top-scorer for the Men in Green with a 71-ball 44, which featured two fours and a six.

Debutant middle-order batter Muhammad Irfan Khan then put together a crucial partnership with Shaheen Shah Afridi.

The pair added 31 runs at a brisk pace amid their stand, which lasted with Shaheen’s dismissal off Starc in the 37th over.

Irfan got run out after adding 27 for the eight wicket with Naseem Shah.

Naseem Shah then launched an onslaught on the Australian bowlers and gave a late push to Pakistan’s total, courtesy of his quickfire cameo.

He smashed one four and four sixes on his way to a 39-ball 40.

Starc led the way for Australia with three wickets, followed by Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins with two each. Sean Abbott and Marnus Labuschagne made one scalp apiece.