Australia clinched a hard-fought two-wicket win against Pakistan in the first ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday, showcasing a balanced team effort with both bat and ball. Chasing Pakistan’s modest total of 203, Australia faced some early hurdles but ultimately reached the target in 33.3 overs, thanks to key contributions from their seasoned players.
The chase began with a stumble, as openers Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk were dismissed early, leaving Australia at a precarious 28/2. However, veteran Steven Smith and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis took charge to stabilize the innings, forming a crucial 85-run partnership for the third wicket. Smith looked in good form, scoring a brisk 44 from 46 balls, while Inglis kept the scoreboard ticking with 49 off 42 deliveries, maintaining a steady run rate to keep Australia in contention.
Despite this recovery, the middle order wavered as Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell fell in quick succession, leading to a brief collapse. Captain Pat Cummins then stepped up, anchoring the lower order with a determined 32 not out. When Australia found themselves in a tricky spot at 185/8, Cummins partnered with Mitchell Starc to guide the team to victory, their calm presence sealing the match in the 34th over.
Earlier, Pakistan struggled to build momentum after opting to bat first. They lost early wickets, including debutant Saim Ayub, who was dismissed for just one. Captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam worked to rebuild the innings, with Babar contributing a solid 37. However, his dismissal triggered a collapse, and Pakistan slid to 117/6. Rizwan fought hard to top-score with 44 runs, but Australia’s disciplined bowling kept Pakistan under pressure. Some resistance came from lower-order batsmen Irfan and Shaheen Shah Afridi, who contributed a vital 31-run stand, before Naseem Shah provided a final spark. Naseem’s quickfire 40 off 39 balls, which included four sixes, added valuable runs as Pakistan reached 203 before being bowled out in the 47th over.
For Australia, Mitchell Starc was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for 45 runs. Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa also chipped in with two wickets each, keeping Pakistan’s batters in check.
Scores in Brief:
Australia: 204/8 in 33.3 overs (Inglis 49, Smith 44; Rauf 3-67, Afridi 2-43)
Pakistan: 203 all out in 47 overs (Rizwan 44, Babar 37, Naseem 40; Starc 3-45, Zampa 2-33)
Australia won by two wickets, leading the series 1-0.
