Pat Cummins Leads Australia to Thrilling Victory Over Pakistan with Gritty 32* in 1st ODI
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| Pat Cummins led Australia with bat to victory once again / Getty |
In a nail-biting finish, Australian skipper Pat Cummins once again showed his mettle with the bat, steering Australia to a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in their ODI clash. Chasing a modest target of 204, Cummins held his nerve amidst mounting pressure, remaining unbeaten on 32 off 31 balls and guiding his team across the finish line in the 34th over. Pakistan’s bowlers put up a valiant effort, but Cummins’ composed knock proved too much to overcome.
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| Steve Smith and Josh Inglis built an 85-run partnership, with Smith falling short of a fifty at 44. / Getty |
Australia’s chase got off to a rocky start, losing opener Matthew Short for 1 in the second over to Shaheen Afridi. Fellow opener Jake Fraser-McGurk soon followed for 16, dismissed by Naseem Shah, leaving Australia reeling at 24/2. However, Steve Smith and Josh Inglis steadied the innings with an 85-run stand, both playing some exquisite strokes to keep the run rate healthy. Smith fell for 44, while Inglis was dismissed on 49, sparking a middle-order collapse as Haris Rauf removed Marnus Labuschagne (16) and Glenn Maxwell (0) in back-to-back deliveries.
With Australia at 139/6, Aaron Hardie and Sean Abbott provided some resistance, reducing the target before Hardie was clean bowled by Mohammad Hasnain for 10. Cummins then took charge at number nine, combining with Abbott before the latter was run out for 13. Mitchell Starc joined Cummins, but it was the captain who kept the scoreboard ticking, patiently waiting for loose deliveries to push Australia closer to victory.
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| Pakistan conceded 21 extras, which proved crucial in the final outcome of the match. / Getty |
Despite a solid bowling effort, Pakistan fell short in defending their total. Haris Rauf’s pace troubled the Australian middle order, claiming 3/67 in his nine overs, while Shaheen Afridi bowled economically, picking up 2/43 in his 10 overs. Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain also chipped in with one wicket each, but Pakistan's 21 extras ultimately cost them dearly in a low-scoring contest.
Earlier in the day, Cummins won the toss and opted to bowl first on a lively pitch, a decision that paid off as Mitchell Starc struck early to remove Pakistan’s openers. Debutant Saim Ayub (1) and Abdullah Shafique (12) fell cheaply, and while captain Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam fought back with a 39-run partnership, Babar’s departure for 37 halted the recovery. Kamran Ghulam (5) and Agha Salman (12) struggled to contribute, leaving Pakistan in a precarious position. Rizwan managed 44 before he was caught in the deep, and contributions from debutant Irfan Khan (22) and Shaheen Afridi (24) kept Pakistan's hopes alive. A spirited knock from Naseem Shah (40) in the lower order pushed Pakistan past 200, but they were eventually bowled out for 203 in 46.4 overs.
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| Mitchell Starc led the Australian bowling attack with 3/33, supported by Cummins and Adam Zampa (2 wickets each). / Getty |
Australia’s bowlers shone collectively, with Starc leading the way, taking 3/33 in 10 overs. Cummins and leg-spinner Adam Zampa contributed with two wickets each, ensuring Pakistan never found their footing on the bouncy track.
With this win, Australia solidified their form, while Cummins received a standing ovation from his teammates for yet another match-winning performance with the bat.