'Luck Favoured Australia Today…' - Mohammad Rizwan Makes Big Claim After Pakistan's Defeat
![Pakistan bowlers picked up eight Australian wickets in the first ODI [Source: @TheRealPCB/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1730735236437_ausvpak.jpg?im=Resize=(650,450))
Pakistan bowlers picked up eight Australian wickets in the first ODI [Source: @TheRealPCB/x]
Pakistan lost its series-opening first ODI match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) by two wickets. Despite posing just 203 runs upfront, Pakistan pacemen nearly pulled off a heist for the ages by taking eight Australian wickets by the time of conceding 185 runs to the hosts.
However, the penultimate wicket pair of captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc played starring roles with the bat by shrugging off the remaining 19 required runs.
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Despite finding themselves on the losing side, Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan praised his teammates for putting up a remarkable fight, and singled out Haris Rauf for his three-wicket burst in the middle overs. The ‘Men in Green’ skipper also claimed that luck favoured the Australians on the day, and backed his decision of employing a four-pronged pace attack.
Mohammad Rizwan defends unleashing four pacers
Mohammad Rizwan unleashed four fast bowlers on Australia in the first ODI match at the MCG. While the four ‘Men in Green’ pacers made the Australians earn their 204-run target, Pakistan also ended up conceding 21 extras in the run-chase, including 17 wides.
Captain Rizwan defended his decision by claiming that the team management had aimed to rely on four fast bowlers as a bowling group. The wicketkeeper-batter also praised Haris Rauf for jolting Australia’s middle-order, and commended his teammates for putting up a strong fight against the hosts. He said:
“We decided that regardless of the situation, we would fight and show courage. It was a good contest, but in a match like this, you can't draw too many conclusions. The result is in God's hands, but I am proud of the fight we put up. Haris Rauf bowled very well. As a bowling group, we aimed to rely on our four seamers and not extend to a fifth or sixth bowler. Unfortunately, luck favored Australia today.”
For Australia, new ball striker and express paceman Mitchell Starc delivered a ‘Player of the Match’ performance by picking up figures of 3-33 from his 10 overs. Fellow senior pros Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa also chipped in with two wickets each.
Pakistan and hosts Australia will now collide in the second ODI of their three-match series at the Adelaide Oval on November 8.
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