Australia beat Pakistan by two wickets in first ODI

MELBOURNE: Australia won the first ODI against Pakistan by two wickets on Monday, despite a few scares along the way courtesy of Pakistan’s bowlers.

Australia may have beat Pakistan with 99 deliveries remaining, but they had their fair share of scares as Pakistan took eight wickets as the Aussies fought their way to the target.

Australia lost two wickets early on to start their innings. Matthew Short was the first to fall for Australia after a delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi. The delivery from the Pakistani fast bowler found the top edge of Shorts bat before being sent to mid-off, where Saim Ayub got underneath it to dismiss the Australian opener.

Jake Fraser-McGurk was sent off next on the last ball of the fourth over. He made 16 runs off 14 deliveries, hitting one four in the process. He was caught out by Irfan Khan on a delivery from Naseem Shah.

Steven Smith and Josh Inglis then put together Australia’s most dominant partnership, scoring 85 runs off 75 deliveries. It came to an end when Smith was dismissed just before making a half century. He fell on the 46th ball he faced, after he slammed a delivery from Haris Rauf straight to Saim Ayub who took a great catch just above his head.

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Inglis would be dismissed after smashing a delivery from Shaheed Afridi in Irfan Khan’s direction, leading to an incredible sliding catch from the Pakistani player.

Marnus Labuschagne would be dismissed in the very next over, as Australia lost their fifth wicket. He made 16 runs before being sent off on the 13th delivery he faced. Australia didn’t learn their lesson as they tested Irfan again, who took another fantastic catch at deep third on a delivery from Haris Rauf.

On the very next ball Glenn Maxwell, who had just made his way down to the pitch, was sent right back up to the pavilion. Rauf’s delivery found a thin edge before the ball made its way into Mohammad Rizwan’s gloves.

Sean Abbott was the last dismissal that Australia would suffer. He was run out in the 20th over as Pat Cummins would try to squeeze out as many runs as he could after hitting a delivery from Shaheen Afridi. Cummins opted for a third run, however Abbott wasn’t anywhere close to making it back in time.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc would score the remaining runs, leading to a comfortable victory for the Aussies as they had nearly 100 deliveries remaining.

Haris Rauf was Pakistans leading wicket taker, dismissing three batsmen. Shaheen Afridi was the next highest, taking two wickets. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain each took one.

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