Australia Defeat Pakistan By 2 Wickets In Thrilling AUS vs PAK 1st ODI, Go 1-0 Up In Three-Match Series

Australia edged out Pakistan by two wickets in the first AUS vs PAK ODI of the three-match series at the MCG.

AUS vs PAK 1st ODI: Australia defeated Pakistan by two wickets in a thriller first ODI of the three-match series on November 4 (Sunday) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Australia captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Josh Inglis stood out for the hosts as they went 1-0 up in the series by winning the low-scorer. Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf shone for Pakistan with the ball but the Men in Green fell short with runs as Australia achieved the target with two wickets remaining.

Winning the toss, Australia opted to bowl first on a tricky MCG wicket and Mitchell Starc made an instant impact by bowling out Pakistan opener Saim Ayub in the third over itself. Starc continued his dominance by striking again as he removed the other Pakistan opener in Abdullah Shafique in the seventh over.

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With Pakistan on 24-2, Babar Azam tried to play a consolidatory knock but was undone on 37 by ace spinner Adam Zampa. PAK captain Mohammad Rizwan contributed with a 44-run knock as Pakistan finished with 203-10 in 46.4 overs with some late-innings contributions from their lower order. Starc achieved the figures of 3-33 in 10 overs while Cummins and Zampa bagged two wickets each.

Pat Cummins Guides Australia Home With Crucial 32-Run Knock

Chasing 204, Australia too got off to a poor start as they lost openers Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk both early. However, Steve Smith and Josh Inglis formed a crucial partnership before Smith lost his wicket to Haris Rauf on 44 with Australia reduced to 113-3. Inglis was accompanied by Marnus Labuschagne as they tried to stitch a partnership but Inglis departed on 49. 

After Inglis’ wicket, Australia experienced a collapse as Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Hardie all lost their wickets in quick succession and Australia found themselves precariously at 155-7. However, Sean Abbott played a 13-run crucial knock before being run out and Pat Cummins played the match-winning 32-run knock off 31 balls to guide Australia home by two wickets.

Australia will now lock horns with Pakistan ofr the second AUS vs PAK ODI in Adelaide on November 8.