Pakistan was dismissed for a disappointing 203 runs on Monday in the first ODI against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Australian bowlers showcased their skills, outclassing the Green Shirts’ batting lineup.
Invited to bat first, Pakistan lost wickets consistently throughout their innings. Debutant opener Saim Ayub was the first to go, bowled by Mitchell Starc in the third over. His partner, Abdullah Shafique, also fell to Starc after scoring just 12 runs.
Babar Azam made his return to the national side after being rested for the final two Tests against England. He managed 37 runs before being dismissed by Adam Zampa. Kamran Ghulam and Salman Ali Agha struggled as well, contributing only five and 12 runs, respectively.
Skipper Mohammad Rizwan showed some resilience but couldn’t convert it into a big score. He was out after scoring 44 runs. Shaheen Shah Afridi went for 24 runs, but Naseem Shah and Irfan Khan added 40 and 22 runs, helping Pakistan just cross the 200-run mark.
In the end, Haris Rauf went out without scoring, leaving Pakistan at 203 runs. Starc took three wickets for Australia, while captain Pat Cummins and leg-spinner Zampa claimed two wickets each.
This match marked Pakistan’s first ODI since their 93-run defeat against England in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. The national team had a disappointing performance in the World Cup, failing to reach the semi-finals.
In contrast, Australia recently enjoyed a 3-2 series victory over England. Historically, the two teams have faced each other 108 times in ODIs. Australia leads with 70 wins, while Pakistan has secured 34 victories. The Kangaroos also have a strong home record, winning 37 out of 56 ODIs, compared to Pakistan’s 17 wins.
