Pakistan began the home ODI series against Australia on a winning note, defeating the tourists by five wickets in the first ODI at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday. After opting to bowl first, the hosts produced a disciplined bowling performance led by Arafat Minhas before a composed batting display from Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori guided them to victory with 45 balls to spare.
Arafat Minhas dismantles Australia’s batting lineup
Australia struggled to build momentum after being sent in to bat and were eventually bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs. Opener Matthew Short fought hard for his 55 off 76 deliveries, while Matt Renshaw played the standout innings for the visitors with a fluent 61 from 63 balls that included five boundaries and a six.
The tourists made a steady start through Short and Alex Carey, but Pakistan’s bowlers kept striking at regular intervals. Carey scored 19, while Josh Inglis managed 13 before both departed. Australia’s middle order then suffered a dramatic collapse as Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green were dismissed without scoring.
The turning point came through Minhas, who produced a career-defining spell. The young spinner ripped through Australia’s middle and lower order, claiming outstanding figures of 5/32 from his 10 overs. His spell ensured that Australia never recovered despite Renshaw’s resistance.
Abrar Ahmed chipped in with two wickets, while Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Salman Agha picked up one scalp each. Australia lost their final six wickets for just 39 runs, falling well short of a competitive total.
Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori anchor Pakistan’s successful chase
Chasing 201 for victory, Pakistan had a cautious start but remained in control throughout the innings. Sahibzada Farhan contributed a useful 28 at the top before Maaz Sadaqat departed for 8. With Pakistan briefly reduced to 43/2, Babar and Ghori combined to take the game away from Australia. The pair stitched together a crucial partnership that stabilized the innings and steadily pushed Pakistan towards the target.
Babar once again displayed his trademark consistency, compiling a classy 69 from 94 deliveries. The former captain mixed patience with authority, striking four boundaries and a six during his innings. At the other end, Ghori impressed with a mature knock of 65 off 92 balls, finding the fence eight times and keeping the scoreboard moving.
Their partnership effectively broke Australia’s hopes of defending the modest total. Although both batters fell before the finish, the damage had already been done. Minhas capped off a memorable outing by contributing an unbeaten 18 from 17 balls, including two fours and a six. Salman Agha added a quick-fire 6, while Abdul Samad remained unbeaten on 1 as Pakistan reached 202/5 in 42.3 overs.
Nathan Ellis was Australia’s most successful bowler with two wickets, while Matthew Kuhnemann, Tanveer Sangha and Labuschagne claimed one wicket each. However, the visitors lacked the firepower needed to consistently trouble Pakistan’s batters. For his exceptional all-round contribution, particularly his match-winning five-wicket haul, Minhas was deservedly named Player of the Match. His brilliance with the ball laid the foundation for Pakistan’s victory and helped the hosts take a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.
Pakistan registered an easy win over Australia in the first ODI 💪#PAKvsAUS #cricket pic.twitter.com/zaSR8y2VRS
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 31, 2026
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