Debutant Minhas helps Pakistan beat Australia in ODI series opener
Last updated: May 30, 2026 | 20:26
Arafat Minhas, who took five wickets, displays the ball as he walks off the field on the end of first innings in Rawalpindi on Saturday. AP
Shaheen Shah Afridi (C) delivers a ball as Alex Carey looks on during the first ODI match at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday. AFP
Pakistan's Arafat Minhas, bottom second right, celebrates with teammates after taking wicket of Australia's Nathan Ellis during the first One Day International cricket match between Pakistan and Australia, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Saturday, May 30, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)
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.
Mitchell Marsh, initially appointed captain for the tour, was also ruled out with an ankle injury, leaving Josh Inglis to lead the series with the last two matches in Lahore on June 2 and 4.
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.
Arafat Minhas performs Sajdah, a prayer bow in gratitude to God, after taking his fifth wicket to dismiss Australia's Nathan Ellis during the first ODI match. AP
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 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.
Shadab Khan, who was playing his first ODI since the 2023 World Cup, was smashed for a boundary on the first ball as he gave away 12 runs in his first over.
He never found his rhythm, and proved to be the most expensive bowler in the innings with none for 54 from eight overs. He had also gone wicketless in his last three matches, all during the World Cup in India.
Pakistan used all their four spinners, the other being Salman Ali Agha, who bowled five overs, but none got the ball to turn as sharply as Minhas.
The remaining two matches are in Lahore on Tuesday and Thursday.
Two years ago, Mohammad Rizwan led Pakistan to their first ODI series win in Australia since 2002.
