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RAWALPINDI: Debutant Arafat Minhas produced a memorable all-round performance as Pakistan secured a convincing five-wicket victory over Australia in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
The 21-year-old first dismantled Australia’s batting line-up with a historic five-wicket haul before returning to finish the chase in style, smashing a six to seal Pakistan’s victory with 45 balls to spare.
Chasing a modest target of 201, Pakistan reached 202-5 in 42.3 overs, thanks largely to a match-defining 127-run partnership between Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori.
Pakistan’s pursuit began on a shaky note when Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for eight with only 25 runs on the board. The hosts suffered another setback when Sahibzada Farhan fell for 28 in the 13th over, leaving Pakistan at 49-2.
Babar and Ghazi then steadied the innings with a composed stand that gradually took the game away from Australia. Both batters brought up well-crafted half-centuries while rotating the strike effectively.
The partnership was eventually broken in the 39th over when Nathan Ellis deceived Babar with a slower delivery. The former Pakistan captain top-scored with 69 off 94 balls, striking four boundaries and one six.
Ellis struck again in his next over to remove Ghazi, who impressed with 65 off 92 deliveries, including eight fours.
Pakistan lost another wicket when Salman Ali Agha was trapped lbw by Marnus Labuschagne for six, but Minhas ensured there were no further hiccups. The all-rounder fittingly completed his dream debut by launching a straight six to finish unbeaten on 18 from 17 balls.
Ellis was Australia’s most successful bowler with figures of 2-45, while Matthew Kuhnemann, Tanveer Sangha and Labuschagne claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s decision to bowl first proved decisive as Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs.
Despite half-centuries from Matthew Short and Matt Renshaw, the visitors struggled to build substantial partnerships against a disciplined Pakistan bowling attack.
Short scored 55 from 76 deliveries, while Renshaw contributed 61, but Australia’s middle order failed to capitalise after promising starts.
The star of the innings was Minhas, who etched his name into Pakistan cricket history by becoming the first Pakistani bowler to claim a five-wicket haul on ODI debut. He finished with outstanding figures of 5-32 from his 10 overs.
Abrar Ahmed provided excellent support with two wickets, while Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf picked up one wicket apiece.
With the victory, Pakistan take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series, with the second match scheduled to be played in Lahore on June 2.
READ: Arafat Minhas scripts history with five-wicket haul on ODI debut
