Category: Pakistan Cricket

• Pakistan 203; Australia 204-8
• Cummins key to haul hosts over the line at the MCG

Ultra-aggressive Australia almost fumbled a certain victory, but eventually steadied after a lightning quick spell from Haris Rauf to beat Pakistan by two wickets in the first ODI at the MCG.

Chasing just 204, Australia crumbled to 139 for six in the 21st over as Rauf skittled the middle-order when the hosts were trying to end the game as quickly as possible. But the captain Pat Cummins (32 not out), playing his first ODI since last year’s stunning World Cup final triumph, was again there at the end in a tight chase as Australia got home with 99 balls to spare. One of the best quicks of his generation, Cummins has quickly become a specialist run-chaser in the last 18 months after being involved in two close Test wins and three ODI victories.

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Top marks for Noman Ali and Sajid Khan who surprisingly impressed but a series to forget for Ben Stokes

By Gary Naylor for the 99.94 Cricket Blog

Ben Stokes (53 runs at 13.3; no wicket for 33 runs; three catches)

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• Josh Inglis only inclusion who is a chance of making Test squad
• Australia to host three ODIs before three T20s against Pakistan

Australia have opted to leave out all of their first-choice Test XI for the upcoming Twenty20 series against Pakistan so they can prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

After facing Pakistan in three ODIs, starting on 4 November, Australia will then take on the same opposition in the shortest format of international cricket.

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Ben Stokes’s side may need to go back to basics after spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan exposed a lack of focus

The sun was only just coming up in England when the last wicket went down in Pakistan. Jack Leach was deftly stumped by Mohammad Rizwan as he came galumphing down the pitch to swing and miss at a wide, of all things. Noman Ali had bowled the ball out there deliberately, fast and flat after he saw Leach coming.

It was a simple trick, like an uncle bewitching his nephew by pretending to tug off his thumb. England had a pyrrhic lead of 35 at the time, and on television Ramiz Raja lost the run of himself and prematurely called a famous victory for Pakistan.

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