Spinner Arafat Minhas became the first Pakistan bowler to take five wickets on his ODI debut on Saturday as the hosts eased to a five-wicket win over Australia in the series opener in Rawalpindi.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Minhas finished with 5-32 as an under-strength Australia were bowled out for 200 in 44.1 overs before Pakistan chased down the target with 45 balls to spare for a memorable win in their 1,000th ODI.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Babar Azam struck 69 off 94 balls and Ghazi Ghori made an impressive 65 as Australia's inexperienced spinners failed to match their Pakistani counterparts on a dry pitch assisting the slow bowlers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Azam and Ghori added 127 runs for the third wicket after the departures of Sahibzada Farhan (28) and Maaz Sadaqat (8) left Pakistan 49-2.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Azam hit four fours and a six, while Ghori's knock featured eight boundaries. Both eventually fell to paceman Nathan Ellis with victory in sight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Minhas, who smashed a six to complete the win, said he was delighted with his starring role on debut.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"It's great to have achieved a record," said Minhas. "I like to enjoy that pressure environment, and my focus was on enjoying this opportunity and it's great to have contributed to the victory."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia's stand-in skipper Josh Inglis rued a lack of runs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I think 30-40 more runs would have been interesting," said Inglis. "I thought we made them work really hard to get over the line."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia are missing a host of key players including regular skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood alongside opener Travis Head.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Australia, sent in to bat, saw Matthew Renshaw hit 61 after opener Matthew Short scored 55, but the tourists struggled against Pakistan's spin assault, with eight wickets going to slow bowlers.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It was Abrar (2-44) who broke the opening stand of 34 with the wicket of Alex Carey for 19, before Minhas destroyed the batting with guile and accuracy.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Minhas had Inglis (13) and Marnus Labuschagne (0) in his fourth over before getting Cameron Green for a third-ball duck in his next.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At 68-4, Australia were in a spot of bother, but Short and Renshaw fought hard through a fifth-wicket stand of 55 before Minhas broke the partnership, with Short stumped.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Abrar returned for his second spell to dismiss Renshaw while Arafat completed his five-wicket haul by removing Ellis for eight.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The remaining two matches are in Lahore on Tuesday and Thursday.
\r\n <\/p>\r\n",
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