Debutant Minhas’ five-wicket haul sets up Pakistan’s five-wicket victory over Australia
Debutant Minhas’ five-wicket haul sets up Pakistan’s five-wicket victory over Australia
By Nawaz Gohar ; Every once in a while, international cricket witnesses a debut so profound, so utterly commanding, that it leaves an indelible mark on the record books. On Saturday, the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium stood witness to exactly that.
Arafat Minhas, a 21-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner, spun a web of magic to dismantle a star-studded Australian batting lineup, securing a historic five-wicket haul on his One-Day International debut.
Backed by composed half-centuries from maestro Babar Azam and clinical wicketkeeper-batter Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Pakistan coasted to a comfortable five-wicket victory, taking an essential 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
After skipper Shaheen Shah Afridi elected to bowl first on a surface that promised balanced assistance, the Australian openers started cautiously. However, once captain Shaheen introduced spin into the attack, the script flipped dramatically.
Minhas turned the game on its head with a mesmerizing spell of flight and precision. He first deceived the dangerous Australian captain Josh Inglis, sparking a chaotic middle-order collapse. Within a matter of deliveries, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green were both walking back to the pavilion for ducks, utterly undone by Minhas’ drift and subtle variations.
Australia found themselves reeling at a dismal 68 for 4. While Matthew Short (55) and Matt Renshaw (61) attempted to steady the ship with a fighting 55-run partnership, Minhas returned to break the stand, ultimately finishing with breathtaking figures of 5 for 32. Supported by Abrar Ahmed’s crucial two-wicket scalp, Pakistan bundled out the visitors for a meager 200 in 44.1 overs.
Chasing a modest target of 201, Pakistan’s reply met with an early tremor when Maaz Sadaqat was dismissed cheaply, followed by Sahibzada Farhan walking back for a brisk 28. Enter the calming presence of Babar Azam and the explosive maturity of youngster Ghazi Ghori.
The duo stitched together a masterclass 127-run partnership for the third wicket. Babar effortlessly manipulated the fields, while Ghori punished anything wide, breaking the spirit of the Australian bowling unit and leaving the result beyond any doubt.
Though Nathan Ellis struck twice late in the day to dismiss both set batsmen, it was nothing more than a minor consolidation for Australia. Fittingly, the man of the hour, Arafat Minhas, walked out to the middle to put the finishing touches on his dream day. With ice in his veins, the debutant smashed a towering six to seal the game with 45 balls to spare, remaining unbeaten on 18.
This win belongs to raw youth and tactical execution. To debut against a team like Australia and walk away with a historic five-wicket haul and the winning runs requires elite mental fortitude.
The caravan now moves to Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for the second ODI on June 2, and the Aussies have a monumental task ahead of them if they want to crack Pakistan’s newly found spin template.
