New Delhi: Mitchell Starc blew away the Pakistan top-order with a devastating new-ball spell in the first ODI between Australia and Pakistan at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Starc dismissed both the Pakistani openers after the hosts won the toss and opted to bowl at the iconic ground in the opening match of the three-ODI series. The left-arm pacer breathed fire with the brand-new white ball and dismissed Abdullah Shafique (12) and Saim Ayub (1) inside the first six overs.
The ace pacer completed 100 wickets on Australian soil in ODIs following the pair of dismissals and became the sixth bowler from Australia to achieve the feat and joined an elite list of players that includes Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Craig McDermott and Steve Waugh.
Excellent return from the big Aussie quick! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/J8KVZx91Ny
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 4, 2024
Starc gets the ball rolling! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/CYXcVECkj1
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 4, 2024
Starc breathes fire at MCG
Starc’s first scalp was debutant Ayyub, who got an inside edge back onto his stumps. He then removed Shafique who was caught behind while trying to leave the delivery.
Starc came back to dismantle Shaheen Afridi’s stumps to register his third wicket of the match. The left-arm pacer ended with superb figures of 3/33 in ten overs, including three maidens.
Meanwhile, Pakistan were bundled out for 203 in 46.4 overs. Pakistan’s new white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for the visitors with 44 while star batter Babar Azam marked his return to the national fold with 37. The visitors were aided by useful contributions from their lower middle order with Irfan Khan (22), Shaheen Shah Afridi (24) and Naseem Shah helping the team cross the 200-run mark.
While Starc picked up three, Aussie skipper Pat Cummins and leg-spinner bagged two wickets each. Sean Abbott and Marnus Labuschagne also chipped in with a wicket each.
