MELBOURNE: In the first match of the three-match ODI series, hosts Australia defeated Pakistan by 2 wickets in an exciting contest, with captain Pat Cummins playing a key role in the team’s victory.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc was given the player of the match award for his best performance in the match.
The national team had set a target of 204 runs, in pursuit of which the Australian team started batting, then Matthew Short lost his wicket on a total score of 19, while opener Jack Fraser was dismissed for a total score of 28 after scoring 16 runs.
After that 85 runs were scored in the third wicket partnership between Steve Smith and Josh Ingles, Steve Smith was dismissed for 44 runs on a total score of 113 runs and then Josh Ingles was dismissed for 49 runs on a total score of 139 runs.
As soon as both the batsmen got out, the Australian team’s batting line-up faltered. Marnus Labushin returned to the pavilion on 16 and Glenn Maxwell for zero. Aaron Hardy scored 10 runs and was bowled by Mohammad Hasnain.
After the Australian team was dismissed for 7 players, a 30-run partnership between captain Pat Cummins and Sean Abbott brought the hosts closer to victory. With the score of 185, Sean Abbott left the captain’s side after which Mitchell Starc came to the wicket and along with Pat Cummins gave the team victory.
Captain Pat Cummins played an unbeaten innings of 32 runs off 31 balls with the help of 4 fours.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf led three players to the pavilion. Shaheen Shah Afridi dismissed 2 while Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain dismissed one player each.
Pakistan innings
When the national team started batting, Saeem Ayub scored a run and was bowled by Mitchell Starc. After the first wicket fell for three runs, Abdullah Shafiq also continued to score 12 runs on a total score of 24.
After the dismissal of two players, a partnership of 39 runs was established between captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam, but here Babar Azam scored 37 runs and was bowled by Adam Zampa. After that, Kamran Ghulam scored 5 runs and Salman Ali Agha lost the wicket by scoring 12 runs.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan lost his courage after playing an innings of 44 runs and was caught out by the ball of Marnis Labushin. After Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi took an aggressive approach and scored 24 runs off 19 balls with the help of 3 fours and a six, but was bowled by Mitchell Starc at a total score of 148.
Debutant Irfan Khan was run out after scoring 22 runs and Haris Rauf returned to the pavilion for zero. Naseem Shah scored 40 runs off 39 balls with the help of 4 sixes and a four while playing an aggressive innings.
Mitchell Starc dismissed 3 players while Pete Cummins and Adam Zampa took two wickets each.
Toss In the ongoing match in Melbourne, the host Australia invited Pakistan to bat after winning the toss, Mohammad Rizwan is leading the green shirts for the first time.
Former captain Wasim Akram handed green caps to Saeem Ayub and Usman Khan on their debut before the toss. This is Pakistan’s first ODI match after last year’s ICC ODI World Cup in India.
Pakistan Playing XI
Pakistan: Saeem Ayub, Abdullah Shafiq, Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan (captain), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Agha, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Muhammad Hasnain.
Australia Playing XI
Matthew Short, Jake Fraser, Steven Smith, Josh Ingles, Marence Labushin, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardy, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
