AUS vs PAK: Australia survive fiery Pakistan pace battery to win Melbourne ODI
Australia made a brilliant start to their campaign in the ODI series against Pakistan. On Monday, November 4
The hosts won by two wickets in a thriller at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Skipper Pat Cummins played a match-winning knock and helped the Aussies recover after Pakistan threatened to bounce back and clinch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Naseem, Rizwan shine for Pakistan
Returning to play ODIs after the World Cup last year on Indian soil, Pakistan were bowled out for 203 in 46.4 overs. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique fell cheaply, but Babar Azam and newly-appointed skipper Mohammad Rizwan steadied the ship. Babar, who made his comeback after missing the last two Tests against England, scored 37 off 44 before Adam Zampa castled him.
Rizwan looked good in his 44-run knock before Marnus Labuschagne accounted for his wicket. Kamran Ghulam began his ODI debut with a boundary, but Pat Cummins got him out with a well-directed bouncer. Salman Agha, the newly appointed vice-captain in limited-overs cricket, got out to Sean Abbott. Irfan Khan Niazi was unlucky to be run out on debut after making 22 runs.
But it was Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, who both injected momentum into the innings. Shaheen smacked three fours and a six on his way to a quick-fire 24. Naseem helped Pakistan go past the 200-run with a useful knock of 40 runs off 39 balls.
Naseem hit Zampa for two sixes and a four in the 46th over. Pat Cummins, who finished with figures of 9.4-1-39-2, dismissed Naseem to bring the curtains down on the innings. Mitchell Starc was outstanding after he picked up three wickets for 33 runs.
Pacers’ efforts go in vain for Pakistan
Australia lost the early wickets of their openers, Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk. But Steve Smith and Jos Inglis did not let pressure build on the Australian batting. The duo put on 85 runs for the third wicket to lay the platform for the Aussies in their run-chase.
Inglis was the aggressor after he smacked four fours and three sixes on his way to scoring 49 off 42. Smith, on the other hand, made 44 runs before Haris Rauf dismissed. The momentum shifted when Australia lost three quick wickets and were reduced to 139 for six in 20.2 overs.
After Shaheen removed Inglis, Rauf breathed fire to get rid of Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell in consecutive balls. Shaheen Shah Afridi pulled off a stupendous direct hit at the striker’s end to get rid of Sean Abbott. But Cummins put his head down to take Australia home.
Cummins scored 32 off 31 with four fours, helping the Aussies chase down the target with 16.3 overs to spare. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain picked up on wicket apiece.