Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Pat Cummins’ 32 not out off 31 balls enabled Australia to clinch a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in the first ODI at Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 4.
Chasing 204, Australia were in a spot of bother after being reduced to 155/7 in 25.1 overs but Sean Abbott and Cummins stitched a crucial 30-run partnership before the former was run out on 13 in the 30th over. However, Mitchell Starc and Cummins made sure that Australia finished over the line in fashion in the 34th over. Starc remained unbeaten on two off 12 balls while Cummins’ innings included four fours.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and invited visitors to bat first. Pakistan had a troubled start with both openers Saim Ayub (1) and Abdullah Shafique (12) faltering cheaply against Starc in the powerplay overs. Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan added a 39-run stand to give some respite to the scoreboard. However, the partnership was broken by Adam Zampa in the 18th over with the wicket of Babar (37).
Kamran Ghulam (5) and Salman Agha (12) failed to impress in the middle order and added misery to Pakistan’s struggle. Rizwan too failed to continue his good start and missed out on his half-century. He was dismissed by Marnus Labuschagne in the 32nd over. Irfan Khan (22), Shaheen Shah Afridi (24) and Naseem Shah (40) added the much-important runs in the end to take the side 203 before being bundled out in 46.4 overs.
Naseem’s knock studded with four sixes and a four off 39 balls while Shaheen struck three fours and a six in his 24 runs innings.
For Australia, Starc returned with the best figures of 3-33 in his 10 overs while Zampa and Cummins snatched two scalps each.
