In the first ODI of the Australian summer, Pakistan’s batting performance was dismal as they were bowled out for just 203 at the MCG. Australia had the upper hand initially, and the visitors would have reached 200 with Naseem Shah’s amusing appearance.
Debutant Saim Ayub sliced one onto his stumps, and Mitchell Starc needed less than two overs to make an impression with the new ball. Pakistan scored their first boundary only in the sixth over of the innings, but Abdullah Shafique was removed right away to increase the strain.
Pakistan had to depend on Babar Azam and new captain Mohammad Rizwan to save them in their first One-Day International (ODI) in over a year.
Babar, who has been battling for runs in Test cricket, looked back to his best in the 50-over format with some exquisite boundaries to start his innings.
Unfortunately for the visitors, Babar’s off-stump was knocked back in his first over after misjudging the length against Adam Zampa. Babar was the only batsman who seemed to be batting on a different surface so that wicket was enormous.
A snort dismissed Kamran Ghulam from Pat Cummins, who had participated in his first ODI since the previous year’s World Cup final. Pakistan desperately needed massive partnerships at 70/4. Against Starc, Rizwan broke the shackles with a six, but Agha Salman fell for a scratchy 29-ball 12 after misjudging a draw.
Marnus Labuschagne entered the attack a few overs later and promptly dismissed Rizwan with a googly after the captain had only succeeded in top-edging while trying a sweep. This was the big wicket.
At 117/6, everything might have entirely collapsed, but Irfan Khan and Shaheen Afridi made valuable contributions to extend the innings before Naseem delivered some decisive blows in the closing stages.
Before Cummins’s daring knock ended, Naseem had already hit two sixes and had taken Zampa for two sixes and a four-in-one to lead Pakistan over the 200-run threshold.
In summary, Pakistan defeated Australia by 203 runs in 46.4 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 44, Naseem Shah 40; Mitchell Starc 3/33, Pat Cummins 2/39).
