Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Saturday, 9 November 2024 00:04 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
After Haris Rauf led the charge with the ball to help bundle Australia out for 163, Pakistan sailed through to the total with nine wickets in hand and levelled the three-match ODI series 1-1 on Friday.
Saim Ayub (82) and Abdullah Shafique (64*) put together a 137-run stand for the first wicket – Pakistan’s second-best opening stand in an ODI against Australia.
Earlier, having arrived in Adelaide for the second ODI on the back of a close finish in Melbourne earlier this week, the Mohammad Rizwan-led side put on a comprehensive display against the hosts.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Shaheen Afridi removed the Australian openers – Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk – in his opening spell with the new ball.
Rauf, who had put Pakistan in a promising position in the first ODI, then went on to run through the Australian middle order, claiming his second five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.
Sticking to a hard line and length, the pacer got rid of Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell and the opposition skipper Pat Cummins. He was deemed the Player of the Match for his spell of 5/29.
Steve Smith was the highest scorer for the hosts, contributing 35 runs off 48 deliveries before he was dismissed by 24-year-old Mohammad Hasnain, with Rizwan grabbing hold of a thick outside edge behind the stumps.
The chase from Pakistan saw the two openers breeze past the total with 23.3 overs left to be bowled.
The visiting side managed to hit 10 sixes on their way to the win – the most by a Pakistan team against Australia in an ODI – the last of which saw Babar Azam wrap up the win in the 27th over.
Ayub, who piled on the most runs, also managed to claim the most maximums (6) by a Pakistan batter against Australia in an ODI.
Rauf, who now has eight wickets from the two ODIs, conceded that it was his familiarity with playing in the Big Bash League that has assisted him in the ongoing series.
“I have played a lot of games for the Melbourne Stars, so I know these conditions,” Rauf said.
Pakistan Captain Mohammad Rizwan heaped praises on the quick. “Everyone is enjoying his (Haris Rauf’s) bowling. Not only fans from Pakistan, but also from all around the world,” he said.
