Calm Captain Pat Cummins Leads Australia To Two-wicket Win Over Pakistan In 1st ODI

Captain Pat Cummins kept his nerve on his return to international cricket to lead Australia to a nervy two-wicket win over Pakistan in first one-day international on Monday.

A calm Cummins made an unbeaten 32 off 31 balls to steer Australia to 204-8 with more than 16 overs to spare, after middle-order had stumbled in a modest run chase.

Searing pace from Mitchell Starc (3-33) had earlier helped to bowl out Pakistan for 203 with Cummins, playing his first international since T20 World Cup in June, picking up 2-39 after he won toss and elected to field.

“It's always nice to start summer off in a positive way,” said Cummins. “We are looking for powerplay wickets … (and) it was a really positive effort with ball. Maybe a little sloppy from us in field." Josh Inglis (49) and Steve Smith (44) had chase under control at 113-2 before Pakistan's four-pronged pace attack had Australia reeling at 155-7 on a bouncy MCG wicket.

Fast bowler Haris Rauf (3-67) ignited collapse when he had Smith caught at point and n Marnus Labuschagne (16) and Glenn Maxwell (0) were undone by pacey deliveries.

Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up 2-43, but Cummins added 30 runs with Sean Abbott before skipper carried his side over line for a 1-0 lead in three-match series.

Earlier, five of Pakistan's six top-order batters, fresh from playing on spinning wickets at home against England, struggled to cope with pace of Starc and Cummins.

Babar Azam , who was omitted from last two test victories against England, made a fluent 37 as rest of top-order crumbled.

Starc removed debutant Saim Ayub in his second over when left-hander played ball back onto his stumps, and Abdullah Shafique couldn't pull his bat out of way of ar short delivery and was caught behind.

Starc, playing his 54th ODI in Australia, reached 100 wickets at home and broke record of Brett Lee, who achieved his milestone in 55 ODIs.

left-armer Starc is w fourth on all-time list of Australian ODI bowlers, behind Glenn McGrath, Lee and Shane Warne.

Pakistan's new white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan struggled to accelerate before leg-spinner Adam Zampa had Babar clean bowled in his first over. Rizwan made 44 off 71 balls before he top-edged a sweep to Labuschagne, ball deflecting off his helmet to gave wicketkeeper Inglis his third catch.

Kamran Ghulam couldn't gauge steep bounce provided by Cummins and gloved a simple catch behind wicket before Pakistan tail-enders frustrated Australia.

Naseem Shah smashed a better than a run-a-ball 40 with four sixes and Afridi scored a quickfire 24 off 19 balls which lifted Pakistan beyond 200-run mark. But Cummins wrapped up innings by having Naseem caught at mid-off.

Naseem and Afridi n dismissed openers Jake Fraser-McGurk (16) and Matt Short (1) before Smith and Inglis combined in an 85-run partnership.

Pakistan fought back well with majority of 25,831 spectators backing visitors, but Cummins took his side home at end.

Naseem injured his left calf in his follow through and left field with Australia needing eight for victory.

“I think we did very well,” said Rizwan, who replaced Babar as Pakistan's new white-ball captain. “We missed a few chances and luck was with Australia, so congratulations to m. It's difficult to read anything into this game … but I'm happy with fight we put up.” second game will be played in Adelaide on Friday with final ODI in Perth on Sunday. series will be followed by three T20s.