Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs after a dominant spin display, with debutant Arafat Minhas taking five wickets for 32 runs as the Green Shirts have clinched five-wicket victory over the visitors in the first ODI at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Matt Renshaw top-scored for Australia with 61, while Matthew Short made 55 before falling to Arafat Minhas.
Pakistan responded with control in the chase of 201, led by Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori, who built a strong partnership.
Babar Azam made 69 from 94 balls, striking four fours and one six, before being dismissed by Nathan Ellis.
Ghazi Ghori contributed 65 runs, anchoring the innings with measured strokeplay before falling to Ellis as well.
Arafat Minhas finished with figures of 5 for 32 on debut, dismantling Australia’s middle order with sharp turn and variation.
Pakistan reached 202 for 5 in 42.3 overs to win the match by five wickets, taking a 1–0 lead in the series
PLAYING XI
PAKISTAN:
Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
AUSTRALIA:
Matt Short, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis (capt & wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, 7 Ollie Peake, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha, Billy Stanlake, Matt Kuhnemannqa
