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After his stunning new ball performance against Pakistan in the first ODI on Monday, November 4 at Melbourne Cricket Ground, star Australian pacer Mitchell Starc joined an elite list. During a difficult period against Pakistan's openers Saim Ayyub and Abdullah Shafique, the left-arm quick was scorching with the new ball. The seasoned seamer was rewarded for his consistency when he dismissed both openers and finished with 100 wickets in ODIs on Australian soil. Starc entered an elite group that includes Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Craig McDermott, and Steve Waugh, and he became the sixth bowler from his nation to reach this milestone in the 50-over format.
Saim Ayyub, who was making his debut, was dismissed by Starc in his second over as he got an inside edge back onto his stumps. Additionally, he dismissed Abdullah Shafique, who attempted to escape the delivery but inadvertently edged him to wicketkeeper Josh Inglis.
He completed with figures of 3/33 in ten overs after later smashing Shaheen Afridi's stumps to claim his third wicket of the game. Pakistan, meanwhile, struggled to maintain the run-flow throughout their innings. Mohammad Rizwan, the new white-ball captain, joined star batsman Babar Azam at the crease after the team lost both openers on 24.
Rizwan's 44 on captaincy debut
In an attempt to ease tensions in the dressing room, Babar and Rizwan joined 39 runs for the third wicket, but Zampa dismissed Babar for 37 (44). Rizwan took the scoreboard forward and remained in the crease at one end after losing his partner.
Marnus Labuschagne dismissed him for 44 (71), just six runs short of his half-century. Down the order, Shaheen Afridi (24 off 19) and Agha Salman (12 off 29) also contributed well for Pakistan.
Pakistan later got all out for 203 runs with Naseem Shah providing his team with a massive boost of 40 runs at the end. His knock ensured that his side would have some score to defend.
