Pakistan started their home ODI series against Australia with a win, defeating the visitors by five wickets in the first ODI at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday. Choosing to bowl first, Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Arafat Minhas, performed well, and a steady batting effort from Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori secured victory with 45 balls remaining.
Arafat Minhas dismantles Australia’s batting lineup
Australia faced difficulties batting after being put in, getting all out for 200 in 44.1 overs. Opener Matthew Short fought to score 55 off 76 balls, while Matt Renshaw was the standout player for Australia with 61 from 63 balls, hitting five boundaries and a six.
Short and Alex Carey gave Australia a steady start, but Pakistan’s bowlers struck consistently. Carey scored 19, while Josh Inglis managed 13 before both were dismissed. Australia’s middle order collapsed dramatically as Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green both went out without scoring.
The turning point was Minhas, who had a remarkable spell, taking 5 wickets for 32 runs in his 10 overs. His performance ensured that Australia couldn’t recover despite Renshaw’s efforts.
Abrar Ahmed added two wickets, with Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Salman Agha each taking one. Australia lost their last six wickets for just 39 runs, falling well short of a competitive total.
Also READ: PAK vs AUS, ODI Series: Broadcast, Live Streaming details – When and where to watch in India, Pakistan, USA, Australia & other countries
Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori anchor Pakistan’s successful chase
In pursuit of 201, Pakistan started cautiously but maintained control throughout their innings. Sahibzada Farhan contributed with a useful 28 at the top, but Maaz Sadaqat was out for 8. With Pakistan at 43/2, Babar and Ghori teamed up to take control of the game. Their partnership proved vital in stabilizing the innings and moving Pakistan closer to the target.
Babar showed his consistency again, scoring 69 from 94 balls with four boundaries and a six. Meanwhile, Ghori impressed with 65 off 92 balls, hitting eight boundaries as they kept the score progressing.
Their strong partnership dashed Australia’s hopes of defending a small target. Although both batters got out before the end, Pakistan had already set a solid foundation. Minhas capped off a successful day with an unbeaten 18 off 17 balls, while Salman Agha scored a quick 6. Abdul Samad was not out on 1 as Pakistan made 202/5 in 42.3 overs.
Nathan Ellis was Australia’s best bowler with two wickets, while Matthew Kuhnemann, Tanveer Sangha, and Labuschagne each took one. However, Australia struggled to trouble Pakistan’s batters consistently. Minhas was justly named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round performance, especially his five-wicket haul, which laid the groundwork for Pakistan’s win and gave them a 1-0 lead in the ODI series.
Pakistan registered an easy win over Australia in the first ODI 💪#PAKvsAUS #cricket pic.twitter.com/zaSR8y2VRS
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) May 31, 2026
Also READ: Cricket Australia announces ODI fixtures for the historic tour of Zimbabwe 2026