Australia clinched a two-wicket win over Pakistan in the first ODI at the MCG, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Skipper Pat Cummins’ decision to field after winning the toss proved successful as Australia chased down the target with 99 balls to spare.
Batting first, Pakistan was bowled out for 203 runs in 46.4 overs. Despite a few solid contributions, the visitors struggled to build momentum against Australia’s disciplined bowling attack, led by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
The Pakistan lineup, featuring key players like captain Mohammad Rizwan and vice-captain Salman Ali Agha, fought hard but fell short of putting up a more challenging score.
In response, Australia reached 204 runs in 33.3 overs, but not without a few hiccups. Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell played crucial roles in keeping the innings steady amidst a strong bowling performance from Pakistan’s pacers, especially Haris Rauf.
Rauf’s fiery spell caused some late drama, but Australia ultimately managed to cross the finish line with two wickets in hand.
Scores at a glance
- Pakistan: 203 all out in 46.4 overs
- Australia: 204/8 in 33.3 overs (won by 2 wickets)
Playing XIs
- Pakistan: Mohammad Rizwan (c), Salman Ali Agha (vc), Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.
- Australia: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis (wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
The second ODI between Pakistan and Australia is scheduled for Friday, November 8, at 8:30 AM local time.
