Australian captain Pat Cummins praised the bowlers, particularly Mitchell Starc, after Australia clinched a narrow 2-wicket victory against Pakistan in the first ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on November 4. Chasing 204, Australia stumbled at times but ultimately reached the target, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Starc’s outstanding bowling (3/33) earned him the Player of the Match award as he set the tone early by dismissing Pakistan’s openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique. Cummins, making his ODI captaincy debut after Australia’s World Cup triumph last year, utilized eight bowling options to restrict Pakistan to 203.
Reflecting on the win, Cummins expressed satisfaction with the team’s bowling depth and strategy: “Really happy with the way the guys bowled. Starcy was terrific at the top, and the others bowled really well. With plenty of all-rounders, it made sense to mix things up a bit.” He also mentioned Marnus Labuschagne’s insistence on bowling, which resulted in a successful wicket for the all-rounder.
Cummins played a crucial role with the bat, remaining unbeaten with a 32-run knock from 31 balls, guiding Australia to victory after a late collapse. Despite early setbacks in the chase, Steve Smith (45) and Josh Inglis (44) put on a solid 85-run partnership. However, Haris Rauf’s three quick wickets brought Pakistan back into the game, reducing Australia to 155/7. Cummins held his nerve, helping Australia cross the finish line in a tense finish.
The match marked an exciting start to the Australian summer, with Cummins leading the team successfully in his first ODI as captain since the World Cup victory.
