During their tour of Australia for a three-game ODI series, the Pakistan national team faced their hosts in the series opener on November 4 at the Melbourne Cricket Stadium. Australia held the advantage from the start after winning the toss and electing to field. This decision paid off quickly, as Mitchell Starc dominated the powerplay, removing both Saim Ayub (1) and Abdullah Shafique (12) early.
Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan tried to stabilize the innings with a 39-run stand, offering a brief moment of hope. However, Adam Zampa broke the momentum by dismissing Azam, who had managed 37 runs from 44 balls, including four boundaries. The middle order failed to capitalize, with Kamran Ghulam (5) and Salman Agha (12) falling cheaply. Rizwan also couldn't convert his promising start into a big score, eventually falling to Marnus Labuschagne for 44 off 71 deliveries, featuring two fours and a six.
The collapse continued as Mitchell Starc claimed Shaheen Shah Afridi for 24 off 19 balls, a knock highlighted by three fours and a six. Irfan Khan then fell victim to a run-out by Matt Short for 22, and Adam Zampa struck again in the following over to remove Haris Rauf for a duck. Naseem Shah provided a late surge of resistance, scoring a vital 40 off 39 balls with four boundaries and four sixes, before Pat Cummins dismissed him. Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 203 in 46.4 overs.
On the bowling side, Mitchell Starc was the standout with three wickets, while Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins took two each. In response, Australia's chase started shakily as the new opening duo of Matthew Short (1) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (16) were dismissed by Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah within the first four overs. This brought Steve Smith and Josh Inglis to the crease, who managed to steady the ship with a composed 85-run partnership, making the target seem well within reach.
However, the momentum shifted when Steve Smith played an uncharacteristic shot off Haris Rauf, edging it to backward point for 44 off 46 balls. Shortly after, Josh Inglis fell for 49 off 42 balls—hitting four fours and three sixes—after Irfan Khan took a spectacular catch in the deep. The tension rose further as Labuschagne was caught by Rauf for 16, and Glenn Maxwell was dismissed for a duck by Rizwan on the very next delivery, leaving Australia reeling at 139 for 6.
Aaron Hardie and Sean Abbott came in to salvage the innings, but Hardie was quickly bowled by Mohammad Hasnain for 10. While Pat Cummins fought through a series of short-pitched deliveries to stay in the game, Sean Abbott was run out during an attempt to scramble 13 runs. Ultimately, the Australian captain held his nerve, finishing unbeaten on 32 off 31 balls with four boundaries to seal the win and leave Pakistani supporters heartbroken.
Australia reached 204-8 in 33.3 overs, clinching a 2-wicket victory and taking a 1-0 lead in the home series. Despite a strong effort from Haris Rauf, who took three wickets, and Shaheen Afridi's two wickets, Pakistan couldn't hold onto the game.