- Haris Rauf picks three wickets in the MCG ODI.
- Australia leads the three-match series 1-0.
- Pakistan were bowled out for 203 runs in the first innings.
Australia beat Pakistan by two goals in a thrilling match in the first ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Monday.
Chasing a modest target of 204 runs set by the Green Shirts, the Kangaroos had to battle their way up against Pakistan’s bowling unit to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
The hosts had a shaky start to the chase as Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short perished in four overs with just 28 runs on the board.
But the powerful 85-year partnership between Steve Smith and Josh Inglis has put Australia in a dominant position.
However, despite three wickets by Haris Rauf and two by Shaheen Afridi, Australian skipper Pat Cummins (32*) looked to help his side over the line in the 34th over.
Earlier in the day, after being put to bat first by the hosts, Pakistan had made a rather poor start to their innings against a ruthless Australian bowling attack and could only muster 203 runs before being bowled out in the 47th over.
His opening partner Abdullah Shafiq faced a similar fate as he was also dismissed by Mitchell Starc, sending Pakistan down to 24-2 in 6.4 overs.
After an early hiccup, skipper Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam formed a fighting partnership.
The duo seemed to have settled after adding 39 runs for the third wicket.
But even Cummins’ decision to introduce spin turned things in Australia’s favor as Adam Zampa got rid of star batsman Babar in the 18th over.
Babar scored 37 runs off 44 deliveries with the help of four boundaries.
His dismissal led to the collapse of the middle order as Pakistan lost three more wickets in quick succession, including their captain Rizwan, and thus fell to 117-6 in 31.4 overs.
Rizwan remained the top scorer for Pakistan, scoring 44 points off 71 balls, including four fours and sixes.
Mohammad Irfan Khan, the top middle-order batsman, formed a crucial partnership with Shaheen.
The duo added 31 points at a rapid pace amid their situation, which continued with Sahin’s expulsion of Stark in the 37th minute.
Irfan then cruised to another crucial partnership when he along with Naseem Shah added 27 runs for the eighth wicket.
However, the debutant had a painful end to his brilliant innings as he was run out after scoring 22 off 35 deliveries.
Naseem Shah then launched an attack on the Australian bowlers and gave a late boost to Pakistan’s total, thanks to his quick cameo smashing one four and two sixes on his way to a 39-ball 40.
Starc led the way for Australia with three wickets, followed by Adam Zampa and Cummins with two each. Sean Abbott and Marnus Labuschagne made one scalp each.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Muhammad Rizwan (C), Salman Ali Agha (VC), Abdullah Shafiq, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Muhammad Hasnain.
Australia: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardy, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
Audi series
November 8 – ODI, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
November 10 – ODI, Perth Stadium, Perth