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The first one-day international (ODI) between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground was a tense and thrilling affair, with Australia ultimately securing a narrow two-wicket victory. Chasing a target of 204, Australia’s chase was fraught with drama, losing three wickets in five balls at one point and ultimately needing a cool-headed captain in Pat Cummins to guide them home. Cummins, displaying remarkable composure under pressure, finished unbeaten on 32 runs, leading Australia to victory with 99 balls to spare.
Early on, Australia faced a shaky start with their new-look opening partnership of Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short struggling to find their rhythm. Short was dismissed for just four runs while Fraser-McGurk managed only 16 before falling to Naseem Shah. However, the experienced Steve Smith and Josh Inglis steadied the ship with a crucial 85-run partnership for the third wicket. Smith was eventually dismissed for 44, well caught by Saim Ayub, while Inglis fell for 49, both victims of the dangerous Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The loss of Inglis and Smith opened the floodgates for Pakistan as they took three wickets in quick succession. Marnus Labuschagne was out for 16, Glenn Maxwell fell for a golden duck, and Aaron Hardie (10) and Sean Abbott (13) were also dismissed in quick succession. At 139-6, Australia were teetering on the brink of defeat, but Cummins, who had taken over the captaincy from the injured Aaron Finch, rose to the occasion.
Cummins's leadership and the fighting spirit of the Australian team were evident as they weathered the storm. The experienced Mitchell Starc, who had earlier taken 3-33 with the ball, played a crucial role in the chase, scoring two valuable runs and remaining unbeaten alongside Cummins. The duo saw Australia through to a much-needed victory, ensuring that the world champions started their ODI series with a win.
Pakistan, despite losing the match, displayed a spirited performance and showed glimpses of their potential. Their new captain, Mohammad Rizwan, top-scored with 44 runs, but the rest of the batting order failed to provide him with adequate support. Shaheen Shah Afridi's bowling was a standout for Pakistan, taking two crucial wickets and creating plenty of pressure for Australia. However, it was not enough to overcome the resilience of the Australian team, who were determined to win despite the challenges they faced.
Source: Cummins to the rescue as Australia grind past Pakistan in opening ODI