After winning the toss, Pakistan sent Australia in to bat to take advantage of the prevailing overcast conditions. Shaheen Shah Afridi opened the bowling alongside left-arm pacer Mir Hamza.
Opener David Warner survived as he was dropped by Abdullah Shafique at the first slip off Shaheen in his third over of the match. The first-wicket Warner-Usman Khawaja stand yielded 90 runs.
Salman Ali Agha tasted the first blood as last-match centurion Warner was caught at first slip by Babar Azam on the stroke of lunch. He returned to the pavilion after scoring 38 off 83 balls, including three boundaries.
Shortly after lunch, pacer Hasan Ali quickly brought Pakistan the second wicket. Australia were reduced to 108-2 in the 34th over after Khawaja (42, 101b, 5x4s), who had braved the new ball well for his team, edged the ball and was caught by Salman in the slips.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith replaced the opening duo on the crease. The two saw off the second session of the day, with the Pakistan pace attack looking to make the most of the increasingly bleak conditions as dark clouds loomed over the MCG. Hasan and Shaheen worked in tandem to mount pressure on the home side, bowling three maidens in a row at one point.
Soon after, rain enforced an early tea and play was suspended owing to weather conditions. Australia ended the session at 114-2 in 42.4 overs.
Shaheen returned with the ball once play resumed and trapped Smith LBW, but the decision was overturned after a successful review by the batsman.
Eventually, Aamir Jamal provided the much-needed breakthrough, cutting short the gritty 46-run stand between Smith and Labuschagne, as the former was caught behind after edging the ball. Smith walked back after scoring 26 from 75, including two boundaries.
Travis Head (nine not out, 19b, 1×4) replaced Smith on the crease. Batting alongside Labuschagne, he helped Australia get to 187-3 in 66 overs by stumps. Labuschagne (44 not out, 120b, 3x4s) will face the first ball on the second day.
Brief scores
Australia overs 187-3, 66 overs (Marnus Labuschagne 44 not out, Usman Khawaja 42, David Warner 38; Salman Ali Agha 1-5, Hasan Ali 1-28, Aamir Jamal 1-47).
