Key events
6th over: Australia 42-2 (Smith 12, Inglis 6) Josh Inglis was in great form in the Sheffield Shield, making centuries in both games last month. After missing one attempted cut off Naseem, he nails the stroke past cover point for four.
It’s high-octane stuff out there. Australia are still strong favourites but Pakistan are aggressively protecting an under-par score as only they can.
5th over: Australia 36-2 (Smith 12, Inglis 1) Pakistan are on one. Smith is hit on the glove by a nasty lifter from Shaheen, who then has an LBW appeal turned down when Smith plays across a good delivery. It was too high and would have missed off, but it will enhance Pakistan’s belief that something is happening.
Smith does not share that view and moves into double figures with a smooth pull round the corner for four.
4th over: Australia 28-2 (Smith 5, Inglis 0) That was the last ball of the over.
WICKET! Australia 28-2 (Fraser-McGurk c Irfan b Naseem 16)
Fraser-McGurk cloths Naseem Shah straight to mid-on. He’s been teasing the fielders, mistiming shots all over the place, but this time he picked out Irfan Khan. Fraser-McGurk goes for 16 from 14 balls; while he’s the definition of box office, you can argue that that was a pretty ugly innings, unbecoming of somebody with his talent. He basically tried to hit every ball for four or six.
3rd over: Australia 21-1 (Fraser-McGurk 13, Smith 2) Steve Smith gets off the mark with a confident hook for two. Pakistan are hunting wickets, knowing that’s the only way they can win this game.
WICKET! Australia 19-1 (Short c Saim b Afridi 1)
An early breakthrough for Pakistan. Short tries to pull Afridi, a shot that is usually so profitable, but the ball is angled across and he top-edges it towards third man. Three men converge and Saim Ayub, running back from inside the circle, takes a terrific catch over his shoulder.
2nd over: Australia 18-0 (Short 1, Fraser-McGurk 12) Strap in, folks, Jake Fraser-McGurk is batting. He drives Naseem Shah’s first ball high over mid-off, but doesn’t time it properly and almost gives a catch to Babar Azam. Babar charged desperately towards the boundary and couldn’t quite get there.
An extravagant chip over mid-off teases the fielder before landing safely for a couple more runs, then Fraser-McGurk launches an emphatic first boundary over wide mid-on. Four leg-byes and a quick single complete a very profitable over, 14 from it.
1st over: Australia 4-0 (Short 1, Fraser-McGurk 3) There’s some early inswing to the right-handers for Shaheen, but he’s a bit too straight and that allows both openers to get off the mark with clips to leg. A quiet start.
The players are back on the field. Shaheen Shah Afridi is about to open the bowling to Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk, and I would suggest a maiden over is unlikely.
Thanks Angus, afternoon everyone. We should probably have expected this. Pakistan have a wretched recent ODI record both against and in Australia: they’ve won only 8 of the last 40 games between the sides. And it’s likely to become 8 from 41 despite the infectious defiance of Naseem Shah, who smashed four sixes from No9 to take Pakistan past 200.
Even so, the last time Australia failed to chase a target of 204 or less at home* was against New Zealand in January 2002, when Steve Waugh was starting his last month as white-ball captain, Mulholland Drive was scaring the bejesus out of cinemaphiles and a love was burning inside Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. It was a lifetime ago.
* Barring a DLS game in 2007 when they were chasing 186 from 27 overs, which doesn’t count.
Pakistan all out 203 in 46.4 overs
The visitors did well to smash, grab and scamper their way to 200 in the end but this first ODI is still very much Australia’s game to lose. Their bowlers were relentless, with Mitchell Starc the pick, finishing with 3-33. Pat Cummins chimed in with 2-39 and Adam Zampa returned 2-69, including the key wicket of Babar Azam, a victory soured somewhat by the late stick he copped from No 8 Naseem Shah who whacked a valuable 40 from 39 balls. Pakistan’s top order crumpled like a cheap suit and it was left to their middle order and tail to salvage some pride. But will 203 runs be enough against an Australian wrecking crew featuring Glenn Maxwell and Jake Fraser-McGurk? Join Rob Smyth after the dinner break to find out.
WICKET! Pakistan 203-10 (Naseem c Starc b Cummins 40)
Cummins finishes it! Pakistan had fought hard to get to 200 thanks to Naseem’s fireworks but they flopped over the line with nothing left. After all that masterful blasting it’s a slower ball that undoes Naseem. He misjudges the drive and pops a simple catch to Starc at midoff to finish the Pakistan innings.
46th over: Pakistan 203-9 (Naseem 40, Hasnain 1) Zampa comes back to deliver the coup de grace. Or does he? Naseem won’t go down with a whimper. He takes a single from the first and exposes No 11 Hasnain. But the bunny gets a runny and WHAM! Naseem plunders Zampa’ next ball, sending it over the long on fence. SIX! Fifth ball is wider and has more fizz on it but Naseem doesn’t care. He dances out of his crease again and and lofts it over cover for FOUR. Nice batting Naseem. And what a way to finish the over as Naseem swings through the line and sends it dead straight for another SIX!
45th over: Pakistan 184-9 (Naseem 23, Hasnain 0) Glenn Maxwell whirls through an over and Naseem picks off a single. Can Pakistan make 200?
44th over: Pakistan 183-9 (Naseem 23, Hasnain 0) Big appeal by Australia. Zampa shot it through quick on new batter, No 11 Mohammad Hasnain, who pushed forward and missed. It’s a good shout but umpire says no. Cummins disagrees and opts to review. Yes it’s inline but original decision will stand.
WICKET! Pakistan 183-9 (Haris Rauf b Zampa 0)
RIP Mister Rauf! That was foolhardy stuff with six overs left to bat. Instead the youngster tried to whip a straight ball zooter through midwicket and missed.
43rd over: Pakistan 182-8 (Naseem 14, Rauf 0) Maxwell is taken downtown! That’s a lovely six from Naseem who skipped down and merrily plonked it a few rows into the grandstand down the ground. Haris Rauf is the new batter. He has 65 runs from his 15 ODIs for Pakistan but at least they’ve come at a strike-rate of 85.55.
WICKET! Pakistan 175-8 (Irfan run out Short/ Maxwell 22)
Terrible mix-up from the Pakistan batters and Irfan is gone. He played a smart reverse swat to Maxwell’s first delivery and it looked an easy single but the youngster hesitated for a second and slipped. The Matt Short throw to Maxwell was quick and flat – too quick for Irfan. Out!
42nd over: Pakistan 175-7 (Irfan 22, Naseem 14) Despite being off the pace all day, Pakistan have scrambled themselves within sight of 200. If they can get there, or beyond, who knows? They have a long tail for batting but that means it carries a sting when it comes to bowling. Will the absence of big hitters Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh – both of whom are on paternity leave – come back to haunt Australia in their run chase? Abbott puts the clamps on in his eighth over – just three singles from it
41st over: Pakistan 172-7 (Irfan 20, Naseem 13) As Pat Cummins rolls in for his ninth over and Paistan’s plucy tailenders hang in there with some stubborn resistance, Simon Chance gets in touch via email to mourn the dearth of coverage on free-to-air television for this series which runs solely on Foxtel and Kayo:
Hi Angus, what a pity CA have gone behind the paywall with one day international cricket mens games played in Australia. There cannot be a swifter way to kill interest in the game – as the Rah Rah Rugby Union boys have found out. If they can’t be bothered making it available on free to air then I cannot be bothered with it at all.
40th over: Pakistan 169-7 (Irfan 18, Naseem 12) Sean Abbott’s first ball in his seventh over is a no-ball and it gifts Naseem a free hit. What can he do with it? Abbott angrily hurls it down short but it’s a slower ball and Naseem has the rhythm to meet it on the up. SIX! Lovely shot by the youngster – that’s gone 85-metres on the fly over midwicket. That’s his first six for Pakistan in one-day internationals and it’s a beauty.
39th over: Pakistan 159-7 (Irfan 17, Naseem 5) Pat Cummins is back into the attack for an eighth over. Irfan wafts at the second ball and almost edges. There’s more timber on the third and he gets a single square of the wicket. Naseem gets one as well, fending to gully. Cumminss tries to dig the final ball in short but Irfan picks the gauntlet up and return it with interest, slapping a stabbing pull over midwicket for a boundary.
38th over: Pakistan 153-7 (Irfan 11, Naseem 3) Naseem Shah is the new batter and he sees out the Starc over to leave the big quick with the excellent figures of 3-33 from 10 overs. Now Zampa has the new batter on strike but Naseem is equal to the task. he takes two and then a single to hang onto strike.
WICKET! Pakistan 148-7 (Shaheen b Starc 24)
Stumps akimbo! Having blasted 24 from 19 balls, Shaheen wanted another boundary and Starc was savvy to the threat. The Australian went full and straight, swung it slightly across the line and it went through Shaheen like a dose of salts, sending the timber flying. That’s three wickets for Mitchell Starc today.
37th over: Pakistan 148-6 (Shaheen 20, Irfan 11) Mitchell Starc enter his final over…. and Shaheen shows him the exit, lifting it over mid-off for another FOUR. Good batting by the Pakistan veteran. How will Starc repond?
36th over: Pakistan 144-6 (Shaheen 20, Irfan 11) That one is up… and OVER! Zampa tossed it up to Shaheen Shah Afridi skipped out and took him downtown for SIX! And the veteran No 8 does it again to the fifth delivery, moving his feet and giving it a big whack to the rope for FOUR. Good over for Pakistan – 10 runs from it.
35th over: Pakistan 130-6 (Shaheen 7, Irfan 10) Australia want a quick finish. They have brought back Starc for a final blast. Shaheen takes a quick single from the first but balls two and three are wide. Irfan connec ts handsomely with the fifth which was full and straight and right in the batter’s slot. He sweep it sweetly backward of square.
34th over: Pakistan 128-6 (Shaheen 6, Irfan 9) Zampa is back… and after four neat balls Zampa is GONE! as Irfan sweeps cleanly to the fine leg boundary.
33rd over: Pakistan 124-6 (Shaheen 6, Irfan 5) Ah, the ignominy of falling to Marnus. Rizwan had 44 and was within one shot of a half-century. But he blundered into Cummins’ trap and tried to double-dip on the mercurial part-time spinner. Normal service has resumed now as Hardie works through his fopurth over. And WHACK! goes new batter Shaheen Shah Afridi who bullets a lofted drive over Hardie’s head and over the fence!
WICKET! Pakistan 117-6 (Rizwan c Inglis b Labuschagne 44)
Marnus magic at the MCG! Having rolled the dice and bowled a couple of wildcards in Matt Short and Glenn Maxwell Cummins looked to have regained his senses by turning to Aaron Hardie. Instead he flipped out the ultimate Joker and it’s worked! Rizwa’s eyes lit up at Australia’s No 3 batter coming on to bowl and carted him for four. But Labuschagne had the last laugh one ball later. Rizwan leapt out to sweep it again and only succeeded in getting a top edge and Inglis took a great running catch. Pakistan’s captain is gone!
31st over: Pakistan 116-5 (Rizwan 40, Irfan 3) Aaron Hardie gets another over after his brief spell this morning. Rizwan slaps him over mid-on for four. That’s more like it!
30th over: Pakistan 108-5 (Rizwan 36, Irfan 3) Having bowled Matt Short for an over, Cummin has played another wildcard. It will be Glenn Maxwell into the attack. Heavily bearded and bristling with energy, the lithe allrounder flings down a mixed bag but makes the batters use their feet. The Big Show gets worked for a couple of Small Singles to long on but that’s it.
29th over: Pakistan 105-5 (Rizwan 34, Irfan 2) With the arrival of Khan, Pakistan are into their long tail. Abbott can smell bunnies on the breeze and tightens his line after a couple of hasty yet risky singles from each batter. There’s a half cry on the final delivery. Has he snicked it? Australia seemed confident but Cummins shot a review down fast. Good decision by Captain pat (and the umpire) as Snicko shows nothing but air.
28th over: Pakistan 103-5 (Rizwan 32, Irfan 1 ) As reward for his sharp catch in the last over Matt Short has been given a bowl. He whips through four fizzing deliveries before Rizwan works a single. New batter Irfan Khan gets off the mark from the last ball.
WICKET! Pakistan 101-5 (Salman c Short b Abbott 12)
Partnership broken! Pakistan were trying to turbo boost the innings and Abbott sensed the moment and threw in an effort ball. It fell short, exploded off the pitch and rushed at Salman’s salivating lips. He swiped at it but didn’t get much timber on it and it chipped up for Matt Short at midwicket. Australia strike for the fifth time.
27th over: Pakistan 101-4 (Rizwan 32, Salman 12) Abbott draws a massive top edge from Rizwan and it’s up, up, up… but safe! That was luck for Pakistan. Wicketkeeper Inglis and the boundary rider Starc hesitated just enough to let the ball drop between them. Pakistan are upping the ante now but it’s high risk cricket.
26th over: Pakistan 96-4 (Rizwan 29, Salman 11) That was an awesome shot by Rizwan off Starc, leaning back to a fast ball and smashing it over the fence. Rizwan has now got himself to 28 at a strike-rate a tick over 50. Not great but Pakistan will take it. He knows Pakistan are halfway through their overs and only a third of the way to a competitive score. Now Salman gets the signal, swatting Adam Zampa behind square for a boundary. Good batting Pakistan!
25th over: Pakistan 90-4 (Rizwan 28, Salman 6) The pickle has worked its magic! Mitchell Starc is back on the field and running in for his eighth over. The crowd are still coming in here at the MCG – tough to judge numbers in so cavernous a stadium but looks a healthy crowd with clumps of support for both sides. Rizwan takes a single through square leg but Rizwan does better – much better! – swiping the final ball for SIX!
24th over: Pakistan 81-4 (Rizwan 21, Salman 4) As Starc takes a slug of pickle pinot gris, Zampa looks fresh as a daisy, flipping and fizzing them at an increasingly befuddled Pakistan. Salman fends off the first three then panics, chipping it to mid-on and attempting a run. He gets halfway down the pitch before Rizwan declines his offer and sends him back. Finally Salman gets his single and Rizwan does too from the last.
23rd over: Pakistan 76-4 (Rizwan 19, Salman 1) Australia are going for the throat – or is that the soft belly of the middle order? They bring back Starc and he delivers a maiden. Although he’s pulled up sore and is now jogging off the field. Hopefully a cramp and not a more serious injury. Will they call for the pickle juice? It’s worked for him before…
22nd over: Pakistan 76-4 (Rizwan 19, Salman 1) Zampa’s threat is such that Rizwan knows he’s got to attack or perish. He slog sweeps two and gets away with it, then sneaks a single. Salman follows suit and Pakistan have four runs from the over. That’s better for the visitors nearing the halfway point of this innings.
21st over: Pakistan 72-4 (Rizwan 16, Salman 0) Cummins turns the screws on Pakistan. Rizwan scampers a single but Salman can’t find a run for the rest of the over. The Australian skipper has 28-1 from his seven overs so far, with one miserly maiden.
20th over: Pakistan 70-4 (Rizwan 15, Salman 0) Zampa bowls a masterly maiden to the new batter Salman Agha.
19th over: Pakistan 70-4 (Rizwan 11, Salman 0) That was superb bowling by Cummins and after lulling Pakistan into confidence by giving them three easy singles, he pulled out a grenade on the last and got his team a wicket with a perfectly-directed bouncer.
