To take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, captain Pat Cummins scored an unbeaten 32 runs.
In a thrilling match, Australia defeated Pakistan by two wickets in the opening One-Day International on Monday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The Kangaroos had to struggle against the Pakistani bowling unit to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series after the Green Shirts set a modest 204-run total.
Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short, Aussie openers, were dismissed in four overs with just 28 runs scored, giving them a shaky start to the chase.
However, a strong 85-run partnership between Josh Inglis and Steve Smith gave Australia the upper hand.
Nevertheless, Australian captain Pat Cummins (32*) persevered to get his team across the finish line in the 34th over, even though Haris Rauf took three wickets and Shaheen Afridi took two.
Pakistan had a pretty poor start to their innings against a merciless Australian bowling attack earlier in the day when they were put to bat first by the hosts. They managed to reach 203 before being bundled out in the 47th over.
Pakistan fell to 24-2 in 6.4 overs when his opening partner Abdullah Shafique suffered the same fate after being removed by Mitchell Starc.
Babar Azam and captain Muhammad Rizwan developed a battling partnership after the early setback.
After scoring 39 runs for the third wicket, the pair seemed to have found their rhythm.
However, the tide shifted in Australia’s favor when Adam Zampa dismissed star batsman Babar in the 18th over, thanks to Cummins’ choice to add spin.
Babar smashed four boundaries to score 37 runs off 44 deliveries.
His removal caused a collapse in the middle order as Pakistan fell to 117-6 in 31.4 overs after losing three more wickets in short succession, including captain Rizwan.
With 44 runs for 71 balls, two fours, and a six, Rizwan continued to be Pakistan’s top scorer.
Then, Shaheen and Muhammad Irfan Khan, a rookie middle-order batsman, formed an important partnership
During their stand, which ended with Shaheen being dismissed off Starc in the 37th over, the two scored 31 runs at a rapid rate.
After that, Irfan and Naseem Shah scored 27 runs for the ninth wicket, setting the stage for yet another important partnership.
However, the debutant’s incredible performance came to an agonizing end when he was run out after scoring 22 off 35 deliveries.
Then, with a rapid cameo that saw him smash one four and four sixes on his way to a 39-ball 40, Naseem Shah attacked the Australian bowlers and gave Pakistan’s total a late boost.
With three wickets, Starc led the way for Australia, followed by Cummins and Adam Zampa, both with two. Marnus Labuschagne and Sean Abbott each made one scalp.
Second ODI between the two sides will be played on 8th November in Adelaide Oval
