Australia Clinches Victory Over Pakistan with Two-Wicket Win in Low-Scoring Thriller

In a closely contested match, Australia chased down Pakistan’s 204-run target in 33.3 overs, sealing victory with just two wickets in hand. Pat Cummins held his nerve to remain unbeaten on 32, guiding Australia to the finish line despite losing eight wickets.

Opting to field first, Australia’s Mitchell Starc delivered a stellar start, dismissing both Pakistani openers within the first seven overs, reducing Pakistan to 24/2. Captain Babar Azam contributed a 37-run knock off 44 balls, building a brief 39-run partnership with Mohammad Rizwan before falling to Adam Zampa.

Following Babar’s dismissal, Pakistan’s batting order continued to struggle. Kamran Ghulam fell to a bouncer from Cummins, managing just one boundary, while Sean Abbott dismissed Salman Ali, pushing Pakistan to a precarious 101-5. Mohammad Rizwan’s steady 44 off 71 deliveries ended when he top-edged a sweep off Marnus Labuschagne, caught by wicketkeeper Josh Inglis.

Late contributions from Irfan Khan (22), Shaheen Shah Afridi (24), and a spirited 40 from Naseem Shah, featuring four sixes and a four, helped Pakistan reach a total of 203. Starc led the Australian bowlers with impressive figures of 3-33, while Cummins and Zampa took two wickets each.

Australia’s chase faced its own set of challenges, but Cummins’ resilience ensured a two-wicket win, marking a hard-fought finish in this low-scoring match.