Australian captain Pat Cummins made a significant impact in the opening match of the three-game ODI series against Pakistan, claiming the vital wicket of Kamran Ghulam just as Pakistan sought to stabilize.
Cummins, an experienced pacer, delivered a stunning ball that dismissed Ghulam at a crucial moment, putting Pakistan on the back foot.
The breakthrough occurred in the 19th over, shortly after Ghulam joined captain Mohammad Rizwan following Babar Azam’s dismissal.
Before he could settle, Cummins bowled a sharp rising bouncer that Ghulam struggled to handle. From over the wicket, Cummins delivered a full-length ball that tempted Ghulam forward.
Caught off guard, Ghulam edged the ball off his gloves into the hands of Australian wicketkeeper Josh Inglis.Ghulam had recently scored a remarkable century against England in a home Test series after stepping in for the out-of-form Babar Azam.
Earlier in the match, Cummins’ decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved effective as Pakistan faltered early. Opener Saim Ayub fell for just 1 run in the third over, followed by Abdullah Shafique for 12, as Mitchell Starc put Pakistan under pressure in the opening ODI at the MCG.
Pat Cummins wins the battle 🤫#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/zSJWnriUjD
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 4, 2024
At this point, Pakistan was struggling at 183/9, with Mohammad Rizwan as the top scorer, having made 44 runs off 71 balls. Starc was on fire, taking 3 wickets, while Adam Zampa contributed with 2 wickets, further dismantling Pakistan’s batting lineup.