Cricket: Australia edge out Pakistan in low-scoring first ODI

Australia defeated Pakistan in a close ODI in Melbourne on Monday night, winning the opening match of the series by two wickets.

Mitchell Starc got the hosts off to a strong start after they elected to field first, with the veteran quick firing down a maiden to begin and claiming the scalp of Saim Ayub (1) in his second over.

Babar Azam then built partnerships with Abdullah Shafique (12) and Mohammad Rizwan (44) before falling for 37 runs in the 18th over.

Rizwan continued Pakistan’s scoring as Kamran Ghulam (5) and Salman Agha (12) came and went, until he skewed a top edge to Josh Inglis off the spin of part-timer Marnus Labuschagne.

Wickets fell consistently over the back end of the Pakistani innings, with Naseem Shah’s 40 from 39 the top effort as the visitors folded for 203 with 3.2 overs unplayed.

In response Australia lost both openers early, with Matthew Short (1) falling in the third over and Jake Fraser-McGurk (16) going in the next.

A healthy partnership between Steve Smith (44) and Josh Inglis (49) then knocked off the lion’s share of the chase, with the two putting on 85 runs between them before Smith flailed a short, wide ball straight to Ayub.

When Inglis, Labuschagne (16) and Glenn Maxwell (0) fell within five balls of each other to reduce the hosts to 6/139, cricket betting sites had Pakistan as favourites to pull off an unlikely victory.

Captain Pat Cummins came to the rescue, however, striking a brilliant 32 from 31 with help from fellow bowlers Sean Abbott (13) and Starc (2*) to get Australia home.

“Tonight, we got it done,” Cummins said afterwards.

“I always much prefer sitting in the changing room — got a bit tighter than we’d have liked.

“Very happy with how the guys bowled — 200 was a great score.

“I think for three quarters of it we were really good, looking to play aggressive.

“Sometimes it won’t pay off, but I think [there is] still room to try and find a couple of partnerships.”

Top online bookmakers have installed Australia as heavy favourites heading into the second ODI in Adelaide on Friday.

PlayUp is paying $1.20 for another home victory, with Pakistan at $4.50 to level the three-match series.

Sports news