Minhas finished with 5-32 as an understrength Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs before Pakistan chased down the target with 45 balls to spare for a memorable win in their 1,000th ODI. Babar Azam struck 69 off 94 balls and Ghazi Ghori made an impressive 65 as Australia’s inexperienced spinners failed to match their Pakistani counterparts on a dry pitch assisting the slow bowlers. Azam and Ghori added 127 runs for the third wicket after the departures of Sahibzada Farhan (28) and
Maaz Sadaqat (8) left Pakistan 49-2. Azam hit four fours and a six, while Ghori’s knock featured eight boundaries. Both eventually fell to paceman Nathan Ellis with victory in sight. Minhas, who smashed a six to complete the win, said he was delighted with his starring role on debut. “It’s great to have achieved a record,” said Minhas. “I like to enjoy that pressure environment, and my focus was on enjoying this opportunity and it’s great to have contributed to the victory.” Australia’s stand-in skipper
Josh Inglis rued a lack of runs. “I think 30-40 more runs would have been interesting,” said Inglis. “I thought we made them work really hard to get over the line.” Australia are missing a host of key players including regular skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood alongside opener Travis Head. Australia, sent in to bat, saw Matthew Renshaw hit 61 after opener Matthew Short scored 55, but the tourists struggled against Pakistan’s spin assault, with eight wickets going to slow bowlers. It
was Abrar (2-44) who broke the opening stand of 34 with the wicket of Alex Carey for 19, before Minhas destroyed the batting with guile and accuracy. Minhas had Inglis (13) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) in his fourth over before getting Cameron Green for a third-ball duck in his next. At 68-4, Australia were in a spot of bother, but Short and Renshaw fought hard through a fifth-wicket stand of 55 before Minhas broke the partnership, with Short stumped. Abrar returned for his second spell
to dismiss Renshaw while Arafat completed his five-wicket haul by removing Ellis for eight. The remaining two matches are in Lahore on Tuesday and Thursday. Originally published as Understrength Australia beaten comfortably in first ODI against Pakistan
Pakistan vs Australia, 1,000th ODI, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori, Nathan Ellis, Minhas, Abrar, Arafat, Australia collapse, Lahore ODI
So Australia just collapsed?? lol
I swear these pitches always “help the spinners” but never say why. Pakistan chasing with 45 balls to spare is wild though. Also Babar only 69?? that’s still good right?
Wait I’m confused—Minhas is an Australian or Pakistan guy? Cuz it says debut and then he smashes a six to complete the win… but Pakistan won the 1,000th ODI. Maybe the spelling is off or I’m reading it wrong. Either way Inglis shoulda gotten his extra 30-40 runs like he said.
Dry pitch, slow bowlers, inexperienced spinners… sounds like excuses to me tbh. If they were missing Cummins and Starc and Hazlewood then why even call it “Australia” and not like a B team? Abrar taking 2-44 and Arafat getting the five wicket haul… okay, but I still feel like Australia gave away momentum after 68-4. Renshaw 61 and Short 55 and then it’s just spin city. Congrats Pakistan for the 1,000th ODI thing though, I guess.