Melbourne: Skipper Pat Cummins held his nerve under pressure with a gallant unbeaten 32 to lead Australia to a tense two-run defeat of Pakistan in the first of three one-day internationals on Monday.
Chasing 204, they reached the target with 99 balls to spare at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and survived a major scare when they lost three wickets in five balls.
“The game was great but it got a little tougher than I would have liked it to be out there,” Cummins said.
With Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head on paternity leave, the world champions had a new-look opening partnership in Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short.
But Short only lasted four balls before he edged Saim Ayyub off Shaheen Shah Afridi while Fraser McGurk’s luck ran out on 16 balls, as Naseem Shah slapped Irrfan Khan at mid-on.
The experienced Steve Smith steadied the ship alongside Josh Inglis. They put on 85 for the third wicket before Haris Rauf dropped Smith on 44, well caught by Ayub at backward point.
Inglis followed for 49 soon after delivering a powerful hit from Afridi, which Khan took to his knees.
When Rauf cleared three balls from Marnus Labuschagne (16), then Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck, Australia were suddenly 139-6 and the game was on.
Mohammad Hasnain bowled Aaron Hardy (10) and Sean Abbott (13) was guilty of a slow out, leaving the hosts needing 19 runs with two wickets remaining, with Cummins and Mitchell Starc (two) seen at home.
“Really happy with the way the players played, everyone played their roles beautifully,” Cummins added.
“Obviously we need to try to find some partnerships (in batting).”
Earlier, Starc took 3-33 and Pakistan were bowled out for 203.
Newly appointed skipper Mohamed Rizwan top-scored with 44 but they faced some accurate bowling, all in the 47th over after Australia had won the toss and sent them off.
“We need to play teams like this,” Redouane said. “We have decided that whatever the situation is, we will fight and show courage.
“Luck was on Australia’s side and that’s why they won.”
In Pakistan’s first 50-over over since last year’s World Cup, Starc took the lead in the third over and Ayub fell on his stump.
This is what made Babar Azzam step back, without the leadership badge burdening him after his resignation last month.
He upped the tempo before Starc struck again, with Abdullah Shafiq falling behind to score 12.
Azam put on 39 with Rizwan before spinner Adam Zampa entered the fray and broke the partnership, bowling Azam for 37 with his fourth delivery.
His replacement Kamran Ghulam lasted only six balls, and was no match for Cummins’ brutal bouncer, as he held off wicket-keeper Inglis to leave Pakistan struggling at 70-4 after 19 overs.
The ailing Rizwan played his part but wickets kept falling.
Salman Agha was cleverly taken at square leg for 12 by Short Off Abbott and then Rizwan departed trying to sweep away part-time spinner Labuschagne.
Afridi made an entertaining 24, but Starc struck again, rocking middle stump, before a late flurry, with Shag adding a quick 40.