Australian cricketer Pat Cummins (right) receives a congratulatory pat from teammate Mitchell Starc after scoring the winning run during the first one-day International match against Pakistan in Melbourne on Monday. — AFP

Captain Pat Cummins demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure, scoring an unbeaten 32 to guide Australia to a tense two-wicket victory over Pakistan in the opening match of the three-game one-day international series on Monday. Chasing a target of 204, they achieved the goal with 99 balls remaining at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, narrowly avoiding a major scare when they lost three wickets in five consecutive deliveries.

"A wonderful match, but it got a bit tighter than I would have liked," Cummins remarked. With Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head on paternity leave, the world champions fielded a new-look opening partnership in Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short. However, Short was dismissed after just four balls, top-edging a delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi to Saim Ayub, while Fraser-McGurk was caught out on 16, slapping Naseem Shah's ball to Irfan Khan at mid-on.

The seasoned Steve Smith and Josh Inglis steadied the innings, adding 85 runs for the third wicket before Smith was caught out on 44 by Haris Rauf, well taken by Ayub at backward point. Inglis followed soon after, scoring 49 before being caught by Khan on his knees off Afridi's delivery. When Rauf dismissed Marnus Labuschagne (16) and Glenn Maxwell for a golden duck in quick succession, Australia found themselves at 139-6, making the match intensely competitive.

Mohammad Hasnain bowled Aaron Hardie (10), and Sean Abbott (13) was run out carelessly, leaving the hosts needing 19 runs with two wickets remaining. Cummins and Mitchell Starc (two) managed to secure the victory.

"I'm really pleased with how the bowlers performed, everyone played their roles perfectly," Cummins added. "Obviously, we need to work on building partnerships in our batting."

Earlier, Starc claimed 3-33 as Pakistan were all out for 203. Newly appointed captain Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with 44, but they struggled against precise Australian bowling, being dismissed in the 47th over after Australia won the toss and chose to field.

"We need to play against teams like this," Rizwan said. "We decided to fight and show courage regardless of the situation. The luck was with Australia, which is why they won."

In Pakistan's first 50-over game since last year's World Cup, Starc made an early breakthrough in the third over when Ayub chopped the ball onto his stumps. Babar Azam, relieved of the captaincy burden after stepping down last month, accelerated the innings before Starc struck again, catching Abdullah Shafique behind for a meek 12. Azam added 39 runs with Rizwan before spinner Adam Zampa intervened, bowling Azam for 37 with his fourth delivery. His replacement, Kamran Ghulam, lasted just six balls, unable to handle a fierce Cummins bouncer, which he gloved to wicketkeeper Inglis, leaving Pakistan at 70-4 after 19 overs.

Rizwan played patiently, but wickets continued to fall. Salman Agha was caught smartly at square leg for 12 by Short off Abbott, and Rizwan was dismissed attempting a sweep from part-time spinner Labuschagne. Afridi hit an entertaining 24, but Starc struck again, dislodging his middle stump, before a late surge saw Shag score a quick 40.

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