A crucial innings from captain Pat Cummins led Australia to a thrilling two-wicket win over Pakistan in the first one-day international in Melbourne.

Chasing 204, Australia slumped from 113-2 to 155-7, a collapse that saw Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne and Glenn Maxwell fall in the space of five deliveries to the Pakistani quicks.

But amid loud Pakistani support at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Cummins calmly set up the 30 with Sean Abbott to stop the tourists’ onslaught.

Abbott was sloppily bowled out for 13 when Cummins recalled him for a third run, but the Australian skipper finished unbeaten on 32 off 31 balls to lead his side to victory with 16.3 overs to spare.

It gave Australia’s men a winning start to their home summer, which includes two more ODIs and three T20s against Pakistan and a much-anticipated five-Test series against India.

After taking three wickets and finishing two not wide of Cummins, bowler Mitchell Starc told ABC Grandstand: “We probably didn’t like Patty and I having sanitary towels on, but it’s a positive start to the summer.

“Winning is winning, no matter how you get there.”