Pat Cummins saves the day after five-ball disaster almost destroys Australia

Pat Cummins has come to the rescue after a middle-order disaster almost left Australia in ruins in the first ODI against Pakistan.

Captain Pat Cummins has saved Australia from absolute disaster after a batting capitulation saw the home side claim a two wicket win over Pakistan at the MCG.

Australia were cruising at 3/139 off 19.3 overs when the match was flipped on it head as the wickets of Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell fell for no runs in the space of five balls.

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Inglis, who top scored with 49 off 42, had blasted a six off Shaneen Afridi before trying to go again and holing out to Mohammad Irfan Khan on the boundary.

After Aaron Hardie saw off the last two balls of the over, Haris Rauf blew open the advantage as Labuschagne was caught steering the ball to Khan on the third man boundary before Glenn Maxwell was caught behind off his first ball as Australia suddenly slumped to 6/139.

Haris Rauf has torn the heart out of Australia. Photo: Fox Sports

When Hardie fell trying to give himself room to a ball that hit his middle stump, it left the tail needing 49 runs with 149 balls remaining.

Although there was no need to panic about the run rate, Sean Abbott was the next to fall to make it every more interesting as he was run out going for a third run.

“A bit lazy towards the back end there,” David Warner said in Fox Cricket commentary. “He’s short by a long way. There’s just no urgency there.”

Mark Waugh also said he thought it was “sloppy”.

Luckily for Australia, captain Cummins smashed 32 off 31 balls to get his side over the line.

Fans were quick to heap praise on the Aussie leader.

“Pat Cummins THE GOAT wins it for Australia. Hard luck Pakistan,” one fan wrote.

Another added: “Pat Cummins proving he’s a true all-rounder! Whether as a bowler, batsman, or captain, he’s leading Australia with excellence against Pakistan. And hats off to Mitchell Starc for his sensational bowling at the MCG – pure class!”

A third wrote: “Greatest cricketer right now in the world Sir Patrick James Cummins.”

Another called Cummins “the most clutch player of this era”.

Pat Cummins saved the day. Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Earlier, Australia were all over Pakistan, taking regular wickets to leave the visitors reeling at 6/117 before the tail wagged.

22 from Khan, 24 off 19 off Afridi and 40 off 39 balls for Naseem Shah, an innings which included four sixes, helped push Pakistan to 203.

While it always seemed like it would not be enough, Pakistan definitely gave it a good shake.

The second ODI at Adelaide Oval starts on Friday.

Relive the match below.