What a thrilling encounter we witnessed today in Melbourne! The Pakistan vs. Australia ODI went down to the wire, with Australia eventually snatching victory on the back of some brilliant bowling by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc.
Winning the toss, Australia opted to bowl first, and their bowlers dominated throughout, restricting Pakistan to a score of 203 runs. Pakistan fielded a couple of debutants, with openers Siam Ayub and Mohammad Irfan getting their chances. However, the innings got off to a shaky start, with Ayub dismissed cheaply by Starc for just 1 run. Abdullah Shafiq, batting alongside Ayub, managed 12 runs before departing.
Babar Azam, returning to the squad after a break alongside skipper Mohammad Rizwan, looked to build a partnership. He scored 37 runs before dismissal, while Rizwan contributed 44 runs off 71 balls. Debutant Irfan Khan chipped in with a valuable 22 runs. Naseem Shah, the tailender, played a crucial knock of 40 runs off just 39 balls, helping Pakistan reach 203 runs.
Chasing a modest target, Australia seemed comfortable at first, racing to 139 for 3 in the 20th over. Steven Smith and Josh Inglis, with scores of 44 and 49 runs respectively, steadied the ship for the middle order. However, Haris Rauf emerged as a threat for Pakistan, claiming three quick wickets and bringing his team back into the contest. Australia found themselves reeling at 139 for 5, with Rauf dismissing Glenn Maxwell.
The match then entered a tense phase. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc combined for a crucial partnership that halted Pakistan’s momentum. Mitchell Starc, the star of the show, not only bagged three wickets with the ball but also scored some vital runs lower down the order, contributing significantly to Australia’s thrilling one-wicket victory with 99 balls to spare.
This victory gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.
