Arafat Minhas Shines on ODI Debut as Pakistan Defeat Australia by Five Wickets

After producing a match-winning five-wicket haul to restrict Australia to 200, Minhas capped off a memorable debut by hitting the winning runs as Pakistan chased down the 201-run target with 45 balls to spare.

Pakistan’s run chase got off to a shaky start when opener Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed for eight in the sixth over with the score on 25.

His departure brought Babar Azam to the crease, who added 24 runs for the second wicket with Sahibzada Farhan before the latter was dismissed by Tanveer Sangha for 28 off 33 balls, including three boundaries.

Babar then joined forces with wicketkeeper-batter Ghazi Ghori, and the pair steadied the innings with a commanding 127-run partnership for the third wicket.

Both batters reached impressive half-centuries as they dominated the Australian bowling attack and guided Pakistan towards victory.

Babar was eventually dismissed in the 39th over by Nathan Ellis after top-scoring with 69 runs from 94 deliveries, including four fours and a six.

Ellis struck again in the following over to remove Ghori, who played a crucial knock of 65 from 92 balls, hitting eight boundaries.

Pakistan suffered another minor setback when Salman Ali Agha was trapped lbw by Marnus Labuschagne for six in the 43rd over.

However, Minhas fittingly sealed the victory by smashing a six straight over the bowler’s head, remaining unbeaten on 18 off 17 deliveries.

For Australia, Ellis was the most successful bowler with figures of 2 for 45, while Matthew Kuhnemann, Tanveer Sangha and Labuschagne claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi’s decision to field first proved successful as Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs despite fighting half-centuries from Matthew Short and Matt Renshaw.

Australia started steadily, with Short and Alex Carey adding 34 runs for the opening wicket before Abrar Ahmed dismissed Carey for 19 in the seventh over.

Short then partnered captain Josh Inglis, but debutant Minhas turned the game in Pakistan’s favour by dismissing Inglis for 13 in the 14th over.

The young all-rounder struck again in the same over to remove Marnus Labuschagne for a duck before cleaning up Cameron Green in his next over, reducing Australia to 68 for 4.

Short and Renshaw attempted to rebuild the innings with a 55-run partnership for the fifth wicket. During the stand, Short completed his fourth ODI half-century.

However, Minhas struck once more in the 27th over to dismiss Short for 55 off 76 balls, an innings featuring six fours.

Renshaw continued to anchor the innings and added useful runs alongside Oliver Peake and Matthew Kuhnemann before eventually falling to Abrar Ahmed in the 39th over.

The left-handed batter finished as Australia’s highest scorer with 61 off 63 deliveries, including five fours and a six.

Following his dismissal, Australia’s lower order offered little resistance as Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf cleaned up the tail.

Minhas led Pakistan’s bowling effort with outstanding figures of 5 for 32 in his 10 overs. Abrar Ahmed supported him with two wickets, while Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf claimed one wicket each.

The comprehensive victory gives Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series and marks a dream debut for Arafat Minhas, whose all-round performance proved decisive in Rawalpindi.