Cummins denies Pakistan a thrilling upset as Australia takes a 1-0 lead

 Cummins denies Pakistan a thrilling upset as Australia takes a 1-0 lead

A fiery spell from Mitchell Starc restricted Pakistan to 203, but Haris Rauf nearly stole the game back with a stirring performance. Australia, however, edged through with 204 for 8 (Inglis 49, Smith 44, Cummins 32*, Rauf 3-67) to beat Pakistan's 203 (Rizwan 44, Naseem 40, Starc 3-33, Cummins 2-39) by two wickets at the MCG.

It was a classic display from Pakistan: moments of brilliance interwoven with lapses. At a ground where Pakistan has historic ties, they moved from hopeless to thrilling, yet ultimately fell short as Australia's composure under pressure held firm. Starc’s blistering pace and Pat Cummins’ ice-cool chase anchored Australia, while Naseem Shah’s late heroics and Rauf's three-wicket haul nearly turned the tables.

In front of a crowd of 25,831, which sounded like 100,000 with Pakistani supporters in full voice, Australia stumbled after initially being well-placed at 139 for 3. Rauf’s spirited burst reduced Australia to 155 for 7 and then to 185 for 8. But Cummins, displaying nerves of steel, guided his team home in another memorable finishing knock.

The chase had started poorly as both openers fell within the first four overs, and Steven Smith’s composed 44 gave Australia temporary control. Inglis, dropped once, played aggressively, adding 85 with Smith. Yet Rauf’s pace blitz triggered a collapse, claiming three quick wickets including Labuschagne and Maxwell.

Pakistan's innings saw moments of promise, notably from Babar Azam’s 37 and Rizwan’s 44, but the pace and bounce of the MCG pitch tested their lineup. Starc’s thunderbolts removed both openers, and Cummins bowled incisively, delivering a brutal bouncer to Kamran Ghulam and unsettling Pakistan’s middle order. Late counterattacks from Naseem and Shaheen Afridi briefly lifted Pakistan to 203, but Starc and Cummins ensured it wasn’t enough.

Cummins’ decisive 32 not out, which he credited partly to recent eye surgery and work with batting coach Trent Woodhill, capped another composed display under pressure, taking Australia over the line in front of a loud but ultimately disappointed Pakistan-supporting crowd.