Spinner Arafat Minhas became the first Pakistan bowler to take five wickets on his ODI debut on Saturday as the hosts eased to a five-wicket win over Australia in the series opener in Rawalpindi.
Minhas finished with 5-32 as an understrength Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs before Pakistan chased down the target with 45 balls to spare for a memorable win in their 1,000th ODI.
Babar Azam struck 69 off 94 balls and Ghazi Ghori made an impressive 65 as Australia’s inexperienced spinners failed to match their Pakistani counterparts on a dry pitch assisting the slow bowlers.
Azam and Ghori added 127 runs for the third wicket after the departures of Sahibzada Farhan (28) and Maaz Sadaqat (8) left Pakistan 49-2.
Azam hit four fours and a six, while Ghori’s knock featured eight boundaries. Both eventually fell to paceman Nathan Ellis with victory in sight.
Minhas, who smashed a six to complete the win, said he was delighted with his starring role on debut.
“It’s great to have achieved a record,” said Minhas. “I like to enjoy that pressure environment, and my focus was on enjoying this opportunity and it’s great to have contributed to the victory.”
Australia’s stand-in skipper Josh Inglis rued a lack of runs.
“I think 30-40 more runs would have been interesting,” said Inglis. “I thought we made them work really hard to get over the line.”
Australia are missing a host of key players including regular skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood alongside opener Travis Head.
Australia, sent in to bat, saw Matthew Renshaw hit 61 after opener Matthew Short scored 55, but the tourists struggled against Pakistan’s spin assault, with eight wickets going to slow bowlers.
It was Abrar (2-44) who broke the opening stand of 34 with the wicket of Alex Carey for 19, before Minhas destroyed the batting with guile and accuracy.
Minhas had Inglis (13) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) in his fourth over before getting Cameron Green for a third-ball duck in his next.
At 68-4, Australia were in a spot of bother, but Short and Renshaw fought hard through a fifth-wicket stand of 55 before Minhas broke the partnership, with Short stumped.
Abrar returned for his second spell to dismiss Renshaw while Arafat completed his five-wicket haul by removing Ellis for eight.
The remaining two matches are in Lahore on Tuesday and Thursday.
