Pakistan registered a historic 9-wicket win over Australia in the second ODI of the three-match series on Friday, November 8 at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. After opting to bowl first, fast bowlers Haris Rauf (5/29) and Shaheen Afridi (3/26) vindicated captain Mohammad Rizwan’s decision as they bundled out Australia for just 163 in 35 overs.
In reply, Pakistan comfortably chased down the target in 26.3 overs as Saim Ayub played a breathtaking knock of 82 (71) guiding his team to a 9-wicket win. The 22-year-old playing just his second ODI, showed no qualms whatsoever as he took on the star-studded bowling attack of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
The southpaw started his innings cautiously scoring 15 off 30 balls but broke free 11th over by smashing a six against Pat Cummins and further smacked Mitchell Starc for 14 runs in the very next over. The youngster even got a life on 47 being dropped by Zampa and brought up his half century off 52 balls. The swashbuckling batter looked determined to get to his maiden century as he launched an onslaught whacking the ball to all corners to the Adelaide Oval.
He was unfortunately dismissed for 82 (71) as Pakistan lost first wicket for 137 after 20.1 overs. Following his dismissal, Abdullah Shafique (64*) and Babar Azam (15*) took Pakistan home without any more casualties as they won the match by nine wickets registering their first win in Australia across all formats after losing 11 consecutive matches since January 2017.
Earlier in the day, Australia got off to a brisk start with openers Jake Fraser McGurk (13 off 10) and Matthew Short (19 off 15) adding 20 runs in the first overs. However, Afridi quickly removed Fraser-McGurk in the third over getting him out lbw. Short got a life in the fourth over after being dropped by Afridi at fine leg but the left-arm seamer made amends by getting him caught at cover point in the 7th over to leave Australia on 41/2.
Following the dismissal, Josh Inglis joined Steve Smith at the crease and the duo added quick 38 runs for the third wicket with a flurry of boundaries. The dangerous-looking stand was nipped in the bud by Haris Rauf who got Inglis (18 off 25) caught down the leg side while he was trying to pull the Pakistan speedster.
Marnus Labuschagne got in next but failed to get going as Rauf found his outside edge which was caught by captain Rizwan behind the stumps. From the other end, Mohammad Hasnain came into the attack and got the big wicket of a well-set Steve Smith (35 off 48) who tried to cut a widish delivery only to edge it to Rizwan behind the stumps which left Australia in all sorts of trouble at 101/5 after 21 overs.
After an initial four-over burst, Rauf also returned in the 26th over and immediately struck by finding Aaron Hardie’s edge which was once again grabbed by Rizwan behind the stumps. Rauf had his tail up and continued to be among the wickets and got the big scalp of Glenn Maxwell who chopped the ball back onto his stumps while trying to pull the fast bowler.
