A crucial innings from captain Pat Cummins led Australia to a tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the first one-day international in Melbourne.
Chasing 204, Australia slipped from 113-2 to 155-7, a collapse that included Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell falling in the space of five deliveries to the Pakistan quicks.
But, amid loud Pakistan support at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Cummins calmly put on 30 with Sean Abbott to halt the tourists’ charge.
Abbott was sloppily run out for 13 as Cummins called him back for a third run, but the Australia skipper finished unbeaten on 32 from 31 balls to lead his side to victory with 16.3 overs to spare.
It gave Australia’s men a winning start to their home summer, which includes two more ODIs and three T20s against Pakistan and a much-anticipated five-Test series against India.
After taking three wickets and finishing two not out alongside Cummins, bowler Mitchell Starc told ABC Grandstand: “We probably didn’t like that Patty and I had pads on, but it’s a positive start to the summer.
“Win is a win no matter how you get there.”
