Pakistan secured a comprehensive five-wicket victory over Australia in the opening fixture of the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. The fixture marked a historic milestone as Pakistan’s 1,000th ODI match. A superb bowling performance by debutant spinner Arafat Minhas, complemented by half-centuries from Babar Azam and Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, ensured the hosts chased down a modest target to claim a 1-0 lead in the series.
Australian Innings and Middle-Order Collapse
After Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi won the toss and chose to bowl first, Australia initiated their innings constructively. The touring side capitalised on the initial powerplay overs, navigating their way to 51 runs for the loss of a single wicket within the first 10 overs.
However, the introduction of 19-year-old debutant left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas drastically altered the momentum of the innings. Within the space of 16 overs, the Australian top and middle order disintegrated, slumping from a stable position to 68 runs for the loss of four wickets. Minhas claimed the crucial wickets of Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, and Cameron Green in quick succession.
A recovery was staged by opener Matt Short, who compiled a patient 55 runs from 76 deliveries, and Matt Renshaw, who injected momentum into the middle overs with a top-scoring innings of 61 runs off 63 balls. Their partnership guided Australia past the 150-run mark in the 33rd over. Nonetheless, Minhas returned to dismantle the lower order, finishing with exceptional figures of 5 for 32 in his 10 overs. This performance established him as the first Pakistani male bowler to claim a five-wicket haul on ODI debut. Australia were eventually bowled out for 200 runs in 44.1 overs.
Pakistan’s Run Chase
| Team | Total Runs | Overs Batted | Top Performers |
| Australia | 200 (All Out) | 44.1 | Matt Renshaw (61), Matt Short (55); Arafat Minhas (5-32) |
| Pakistan | 202/5 | 42.3 | Babar Azam (69), Ghazi Ghori (65); Nathan Ellis (2-45) |
In reply, Pakistan maintained a steady scoring rate during their mandatory powerplay, reaching 41 runs for the loss of one wicket. Following the early breakthrough, a vital 100-run partnership between former captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper-batsman Muhammad Ghazi Ghori consolidated Pakistan’s position.
Babar anchored the innings with a composed 69 runs from 94 balls, whilst Ghori registered his maiden ODI half-century, scoring 65 runs off 92 deliveries. Although Australian fast bowler Nathan Ellis claimed two wickets for 45 runs to apply brief late pressure, the home side remained largely untroubled. Appropriately, the debutant Minhas concluded the match by striking an unbeaten 18 runs off 17 deliveries, sealing the victory with a straight six in the 43rd over as Pakistan finished on 202 for 5 with 45 balls remaining.