In a nail-biting finish, Australia thrashed Pakistan by just two wickets in the first ODI of their ongoing three-match series on Monday at MCG, taking a 1-0 lead. Australia brilliantly chased down a total of (203) runs with the help of skipper Pat Cummins, who stood firm with his (32 off 31).
With wickets falling regularly, Australia found themselves in a tight spot. Pat Cummins, however, played a vital role down the order, contributing a brisk (32) runs that ultimately helped steer the team towards victory.
Australia’s chase, meanwhile, got off to a rocky start after their opening pair of Matt Short (1) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (16) faltered early, falling to low scores and leaving the team in a precarious position. However, Steve Smith and Josh Inglis stepped up in difficult times. Smith anchored the innings with a composed 44-run innings, while Inglis added a crucial (49), reviving Australia's hopes after the shaky start.
Pakistan, on the other hand, also started on a dull note after winning the toss, with Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub losing their wickets early on. Meanwhile, key contributions from their middle-order batters in the form of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan scoring (37) and (44) respectively, allowed them to set a modest total of (203). With this win, Australia now lead the series 1-0.