What happened
Pakistan beat an under-strength Australia by five wickets in the first one-day international at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Saturday 30 May 2026, with debutant left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas taking five wickets and then hitting the winning runs.
Minhas finished with 5-32 and became the first Pakistan bowler to claim a five-wicket haul on his ODI debut, according to the report carried by Dawn. He then sealed the match with a straight six off Marnus Labuschagne, finishing unbeaten on 18 off 17 balls as Pakistan reached 202 for five in 42.3 overs. It was Pakistan’s 1,000th one-day international.
Australia, sent in to bat, were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs. Matthew Renshaw made a career-best 61 off 63 balls and opener Matthew Short scored 55 off 76 as the visitors struggled against Pakistan’s slow bowlers on a dry, spin-assisting pitch. Eight Australian wickets fell to spin.
Minhas removed stand-in captain Josh Inglis for 13 and Marnus Labuschagne for nought in his fourth over, then dismissed Cameron Green for a third-ball duck in his next, taking three wickets in six balls. He later had Short stumped and returned to dismiss Nathan Ellis for eight to complete his five-wicket haul. Abrar Ahmed took 2-44, breaking an opening stand of 34 by removing Alex Carey for 19 and later dismissing Renshaw.
In reply, Sahibzada Farhan made 28 and Maaz Sadaqat eight before both fell with the score at 49. Babar Azam, who made 69 off 94 balls with four boundaries and a six, and Ghazi Ghori, who hit 65 off 92 balls with eight fours, then added 127 runs for the third wicket to put Pakistan in control. Both fell to pace bowler Nathan Ellis, but by then Pakistan needed only 16 runs.
Why it matters
The result gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and handed Australia defeat in Josh Inglis’s first match as one-day captain, after Mitch Marsh was ruled out with an ankle injury. The tourists were already missing several leading players, including regular captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and opener Travis Head.
For Pakistan, the performance marked a strong start to the series and a memorable debut for Minhas, who was named player of the match. The remaining two one-day internationals are scheduled for Lahore on Tuesday and Thursday.
Sources & reporting notes
This is a summary of published reporting, not independent reporting. Sources reviewed on 2026-05-30.
- Dawn — "Pakistan outspins Australia in milestone ODI as Minhas makes history"30 May 2026 · Reports the five-wicket haul, the match figures, the partnerships and Pakistan's 1,000th ODI.
- AP — "Minhas' five-wicket haul on ODI debut earns Pakistan five-wicket win over Australia"30 May 2026 · Confirms Minhas as the first Pakistan bowler with a five-wicket haul on ODI debut.
