Debutant Minhas's historic fiver powers Pakistan to first ODI win over Australia

Published: 11:57 AM, 30 May, 2026
Sports, Cricket, Featured News
Debutant Minhas's historic fiver powers Pakistan to first ODI win over Australia

Pakistan out-spun Australia by five wickets in the first one-day international in Rawalpindi with spinner Arafat Minhas becoming the first home bowler to take five wickets on ODI debut on Saturday.

Minhas finished with 5-32 as an under-strength Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs before Pakistan chased down the target in 42.3 overs for a memorable win in their 1,000 ODI.

Babar Azam notched a 94-ball 69 while Ghazi Ghori hit an impressive 92-ball 65 as Australia's inexperienced spinners failed to match Pakistan slow bowlers on a dry spin-assisting Pindi Stadium pitch.

Azam and Ghori added 127 runs for the third wicket after Sahibzada Farhan (28) and Maaz Sadaqat (eight) fell with the score at 49.

Azam hit four boundaries and a six while Ghori's knock had eight hits to the rope before both falling to pacer Nathan Ellis, but with just 16 to win, that did not hurt Pakistan.

Minhas smashed a six to complete the victory.

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 hitting a career best 63-ball 61 and opener Matthew Short scoring a 76-ball 55 amidst a 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 stand-in skipper Josh Inglis (13) and Marnus Labuschagne (nought) 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 stand, getting Short stumped.

Abrar returned for his second spell to dismiss Renshaw while Arafat completed his five-wicket haul by Nathan Ellis for eight.

Short hit six boundaries in his fourth ODI half century while Renshaw's knock had five boundaries and a six.

Before Minhas's feat, the best bowling figures by a Pakistani on ODI debut belonged to Zakir Khan, who took four wickets against New Zealand in 1984.

Pakistan has won the toss and opted to bowl first in the first of the three one-day internationals against Australia 

 Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said that they were bringing in Arafat Minhas for his ODI debut.

TEAMS

Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed

Australia: Matt Short, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis (capt & wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Ollie Peake, Nathan Ellis, Tanveer Sangha, Billy Stanlake, Matt Kuhnemann 

The second and third ODIs will be played at Lahore’s Qaddafi Stadium next month.

Today, Pakistan will be facing Australia in its 1000th ODI. Pakistan, which played their first ODI against New Zealand in Christchurch in 1973, have so far played 999 ODI matches, winning 527 and losing 442; nine matches ended in a tie, while 21 matches ended without any result.

Both teams have played 111 ODIs against each other so far.

Pakistan have won 36 matches, while Australia have emerged victorious on 71 occasions. 

Three matches ended with no result, while one match was tied.

Pakistan had outclassed Australia in the last two ODI series by 2-1.

Cricket lovers in Pakistan will be able to watch the match live on PTV Sports.

And for the first time, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will live-stream series matches in Pakistan.

Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has said that playing 1,000th ODI was a special moment for the team. “Australia is one of the strongest teams in the world and competitions against it have always been tough,” he has said, adding that players have worked quite hard during the practice sessions and were looking forward to win the series.

Afridi has further said that Pakistani team’s morale is already high after winning the last two series against the Aussies. “The support given by spectators in Rawalpindi and Lahore to the team has always been very encouraging.”

Australian team manager visits Pakistani team's dressing room

Australian cricket team manager Catherine White on Saturday went to the Pakistani team’s dressing room where she was welcomed by Pakistan cricket team manager Naveed Akram Cheema.

Catherine conveyed Eid greetings to Pakistani team and expressed her good wishes.

She also presented mithai to Pakistani skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Reporter: Rozina Ali 

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