1st ODI
Pat Cummins has dismissed a fiery Haris Rauf to secure a hard-fought win
Pakistan scored 203 in 46.4 overs, where as Australia scored 204/8 in 33.3 overs.
So, finally Australia beat Pakistan by 2 wickets.
Pat Cummins, making his return to ODI cricket after the World Cup final last year, played a match-winning role with both bat and ball, leading Australia to a nervy two-wicket victory over Pakistan.
The visitors, in their first ODI in almost a year, struggled with the bat and posted a modest 203 runs.
Pakistan seemed destined for a heavy defeat before Haris Rauf sparked a dramatic comeback.
However, Cummins kept his composure in the final moments, ensuring Australia began their home summer with a win.
Australia’s chase started solidly, knocking off 18 quick runs, but they lost Matthew Short early when he mistimed a pull shot off Shaheen Afridi.
Naseem Shah then struck in the following over to dismiss the other opener, Jake Fraser-McGurk, with a tame shot to mid-on.
Steve Smith and Josh Inglis steadied the ship, hitting boundaries to calm the nerves.
Smith was in fluent form, adding a couple of boundaries off Mohammad Hasnain, while Inglis launched Naseem for a six.
Australia appeared to be cruising, racing to 105 runs by the end of the 15th over, and the chase seemed a mere formality.
However, the momentum shifted after the drinks break, when a fired-up Haris Rauf ripped through Australia’s middle order.
Rauf dismissed Smith, and Shaheen accounted for Inglis as Pakistan found a way back into the game.
In a stunning turn of events, Rauf struck twice in two balls, removing Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell, leaving Australia reeling.
The hosts lost three wickets for no runs in just five deliveries, and Pakistan’s hopes surged.
With Australia now at 117/6 and 49 runs still needed, Cummins took charge.
After Aaron Hardie fell, the skipper wasted no time, driving his first ball for a boundary to regain confidence.
He held the innings together, expertly dealing with Pakistan’s pacers while reducing the target quickly.
Even when Sean Abbott was run out with 19 runs still required, Cummins remained steady, hitting boundaries off Rauf to bring Australia closer to the target and eventually guiding them over the line.
Earlier, Mitchell Starc set the tone with a terrific start, claiming the wicket of debutant Saim Ayub inside the first two overs and removing Abdullah Shafique shortly after.
Mohammad Rizwan, the new Pakistan captain, struggled, but Babar Azam appeared in top form, playing some exquisite boundaries.
Just as it seemed the two would anchor Pakistan’s innings, Adam Zampa entered the attack and dismissed Babar with a stunning delivery.
Cummins then added to Pakistan’s woes with a bouncer to get rid of Kamran Ghulam, and Pakistan found themselves in deep trouble at 70/4.
Rizwan, initially struggling on 7 from 25 balls, fought back, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.
At 117/6, the game seemed to be slipping away for Pakistan, but Irfan Khan and Shaheen Afridi chipped in with valuable runs.
Naseem Shah then took charge in the final overs, hitting four big sixes in a thrilling cameo that almost brought Pakistan back into contention.
Despite his heroics, Australia held on to secure the win.
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