Pakistan outspins Australia in milestone ODI as Minhas makes history

• Pakistan mark their 1,000th ODI with five-wicket victory after bowling Australia out for 200

• Minhas becomes first Pakistani bowler to take five wickets on ODI debut with figures of 5-32

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

Minhas returned figures of 5-32 as an under-strength Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs. Pakistan then chased down the target in 42.3 overs to secure a memorable victory in their 1,000th ODI.

Babar Azam anchored the innings with a 94-ball 69, while Ghazi Ghori struck an impressive 92-ball 65 as Australia’s inexperienced spinners struggled on a dry, spin-friendly pitch at Pindi Stadium.

Azam and Ghori added 127 runs for the third wicket after Sahibzada Farhan (28) and Maaz Sadaqat (8) fell with the score at 49.

Azam struck four boundaries and a six, while Ghori hit eight fours before both were dismissed by pacer Nathan Ellis. However, with only 16 runs required at that stage, Pakistan’s victory was already within reach.

Minhas capped off his landmark performance by hitting a six to seal the win.

Australia were without several key players, including regular captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and opener Travis Head.

Sent in to bat, Australia were led by Matthew Renshaw’s 63-ball 61 and Matthew Short’s 76-ball 55, as Pakistan’s spinners dominated, claiming eight wickets in total.

Abrar Ahmed (2-44) struck first by breaking the opening stand of 34, dismissing Alex Carey for 19 before Minhas tore through the middle order with precision and control.

Minhas removed stand-in captain Josh Inglis (13) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) in his fourth over, before dismissing Cameron Green for a third-ball duck in his next.

At 68-4, Australia were under pressure, but Short and Renshaw added a fighting 55-run stand for the fifth wicket before Minhas broke through again, stumping Short.

Abrar returned to dismiss Renshaw, while Minhas completed his five-wicket haul by removing Nathan Ellis for eight.

Short hit six boundaries in his fourth ODI half-century, while Renshaw’s innings included five fours and a six.

The remaining two matches of the series will be played in Lahore on Tuesday and Thursday.