Arafat Minhas Shines on Dream Debut as Pakistan Outclass Australia
RAWALPINDI: Debutant Arafat Minhas produced a memorable all-round display as Pakistan defeated Australia by five wickets in the opening ODI of the three-match series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday. The young spinner starred with a five-wicket haul before contributing the winning runs to seal a comfortable chase for the hosts.
Pursuing 201, Pakistan reached the target with five wickets in hand and 45 deliveries remaining. The foundation of the victory was laid by Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori, whose impressive third-wicket stand put the home side firmly in control.
Pakistan’s chase began with an early setback when Maaz Sadaqat departed for eight in the sixth over with the score on 25. Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam steadied the innings briefly, adding 24 runs before Farhan was dismissed for 28 by Tanveer Sangha.
Ghazi Ghori then joined Babar at the crease and the pair combined brilliantly to frustrate the Australian bowlers. Their 127-run partnership effectively took the game away from the visitors as both batters registered well-crafted half-centuries.
Babar led the scoring with 69 from 94 deliveries, striking four boundaries and a six before Nathan Ellis removed him with a slower ball in the 39th over. Ellis claimed another important wicket shortly afterwards when Ghori fell for an impressive 65 off 92 balls, including eight fours.
Salman Ali Agha was trapped lbw by Marnus Labuschagne for six, but any hopes of an Australian comeback were quickly ended. Fittingly, Minhas finished the match in style, launching a straight six to complete the chase and remain unbeaten on 18 from 17 balls.
Ellis was Australia’s most effective bowler, returning figures of 2/45, while Matthew Kuhnemann, Sangha and Labuschagne claimed one wicket each.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi elected to field first, a decision that proved highly successful as Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs despite fighting knocks from Matthew Short and Matt Renshaw.
Australia made a steady start through Short and Alex Carey, who added 34 for the opening wicket before Abrar Ahmed removed Carey for 19. Short and skipper Josh Inglis then attempted to rebuild, but debutant Minhas turned the game on its head with a devastating spell.
The left-arm spinner dismissed Inglis for 13 and trapped Marnus Labuschagne for a duck in the same over before removing Cameron Green shortly afterwards, reducing Australia to 68/4.
Short and Renshaw responded with a valuable 55-run partnership to stabilise the innings. Short brought up his fourth ODI fifty before Minhas struck again, dismissing him for 55 off 76 deliveries.
Renshaw continued to hold the innings together, adding useful runs alongside Oliver Peake and Matthew Kuhnemann. He eventually top-scored with 61 from 63 balls, hitting five fours and a six before Abrar ended his resistance.
With Renshaw gone, Australia’s lower order offered little resistance. Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf wrapped up the innings efficiently to leave the visitors with a below-par total.
Minhas finished with outstanding figures of 5/32 from his full quota of 10 overs on ODI debut. Abrar claimed two wickets, while Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen and Haris picked up one each as Pakistan took a 1-0 lead in the series.
