AUS vs PAK 2024/25, AUS vs PAK 1st ODI Match Report, November 04, 2024

Australia 204 for 8 (Inglis 49, Smith 44, Cummins 32*, Rauf 3-67) beat Pakistan 203 (Rizwan 44, Naseem 40, Starc 3-33, Cummins 2-39) by two wickets

The 25,831-strong crowd appeared sparse within the gargantuan MCG. But it surely seemed like 100,000, and it felt prefer it was in Lahore, as Pakistan followers drowned out the locals to assist hold their facet within the sport. However there was solely a lot they might do, as Pakistan discovered a method to lose regardless of being getting ready to one of many nice ODI heists.

His 32 not out will not go down as his most memorable, but it surely was the equal of any of his greatest innings in Australian colors. It was vindication too for his resolution to have laser eye surgical procedure within the winter to repair his imaginative and prescient, and a few intensive batting work in Sydney with Australian batting advisor and properly renown coach Trent Woodhill.

Australia’s chase started poorly with the brand new opening duo of Matt Quick and Jake Fraser-McGurk each falling inside the primary 4 overs.

Fraser-McGurk’s 16 was notably frantic. However Smith was calm and settled right into a stereotypical groove. Any fears on his Take a look at kind might properly be allayed given how properly he dealt with some glorious quick bowling on a fast pitch.

Australia might have been 55 for 3 when Inglis was dropped by Irfan Khan at gully. Naseem received one to rear from a size and catch the sting however Irfan couldn’t cling on flying excessive to his proper.

That appeared prefer it may need been the final probability. Barring an edge between the keeper and vast slip making an attempt to glide a ball, Inglis was imperious. Coach Jason Gillespie’s 4 years teaching towards Inglis in Australian home cricket had not translated to his four-pronged tempo assault avoiding dropping quick to the West Australian. It value them three sixes and two fours.

After an 85-run stand, Smith made an uncharacteristic error. He slashed a lower off Rauf straight to backward level to be out for 44.

Pakistan’s insistence on going quick to Inglis paid off when he nailed one other pull shot off Shaheen solely to see Irfan run a protracted method to cling on to an excellent catch within the deep.

Rauf, a Melbourne Stars favorite, then had the Pakistan followers in raptures as he cranked up the velocity and Australia misplaced 3 for 0. Labuschagne prime edged to deep third, undone by further bounce. Maxwell nicked the following ball to Rizwan and Australia have been 139 for six.

Aaron Hardie and Abbott steadied briefly but it surely was fleeting. Hardie fell making an attempt to again away and lower a ball from Mohammad Hasnain that hit the highest of center.

Enter the skipper for one more salvage job. It was unconventional because it at all times is. He was bombed with quick balls. However he hold scoring and saved surviving. Abbott was run out when Cummins pushed for a 3rd. However he was there on the finish but once more when the successful runs have been scored to interrupt the hearts of all those that do not bleed inexperienced and gold.

Starc and Cummins, contemporary and in rhythm forward of an enormous summer season, placed on a present in entrance of a really pro-Pakistan crowd. Starc’s 140kph thunderbolts accounted for Saim Ayub on debut and Abdullah Shafique.

The pair have been opening the batting in ODI cricket for the primary time after averaging simply 8 as a pair in 12 Take a look at innings collectively. Their worldwide common dropped to 7.61 when Ayub chopped on making an attempt to drive on the up.

Shafique appeared like he was batting in a Take a look at match. He defended, ducked and weaved on his method to 12 from 26 earlier than failing to get his bat out of the way in which of a rising supply from Starc vast of off as he tried to sway inside it.

Babar and Rizwan settled however by no means accelerated. Babar appeared in fantastic contact however felt the pinch of the slow-moving scoreboard. He tried to create a scoring choice off the again foot to Adam Zampa however picked the flawed size and misplaced his off stump.

Cummins welcomed Kamran Ghulam to Australia with a brute of a supply. The whites of his eyes popped as Cummins’ 142.7kph bouncer reared at his throat. He received his palms up in time however might solely glove it to Inglis.

Rizwan’s sluggish rearguard started to choose up steam when he hooked Starc into the stands at fantastic leg. However he fell to Labuschagne making an attempt to brush a large legbreak solely to get a prime edge onto his helmet that popped as much as Inglis.

Some late hitting from Naseem, Shaheen Afridi, and Irfan Khan, within the mould of the person who had offered his debut cap in Wasim Akram, lifted Pakistan from a dire place at 117 for six to 203.

Naseem and Shaheen confirmed the kind of intent that Pakistan’s prime order might have used, launching 5 sixes between them after your complete prime seven had contributed one, earlier than Shaheen was castled by Starc for twenty-four off 19.

Naseem feasted on spin, launching Zampa into the stands twice and Maxwell as soon as. However Naseem additionally launched Sean Abbott over deep midwicket. He holed out to mid-off to finish the innings. Had he batted till the tip, it may need been sufficient.