ADELAIDE: Saim Ayub’s blazing 82 runs and Abdullah Shafique’s solid 64 guided Pakistan to a dominant victory over Australia in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval on Friday, marking their first win on Australian soil since 2017.
The pair’s impressive knocks set up a comfortable chase, as Pakistan crushed the hosts with impressive performance. Australia struggled to contain Pakistan’s batters as the visitors comfortably chased down the target with the loss of just one wicket. Despite a spirited effort, the Australian bowlers were unable to break the steady partnership between Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, who led Pakistan to a dominant victory. Former skipper Babar Azam made 15 rungs during the crucial clash.
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 8, 2024
Australians suffered a lot of troubles during the match as Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi restricted them to 163 during the encounter. Harris Rauf dismissed 5 wickets including Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne. Harris Rauf has been declared as player of the match for his impressive bowling as he collected five wickets against the hosts.
DEMOLITION JOB AT THE ADELAIDE OVAL BY @HarisRauf14! 💥
Second ODI five-wicket haul for the speedster 👏#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/IIgLquMC4O
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 8, 2024
Shaheen Afridi took three wickets while Naseem Shah removed Mitchell Starc during the encounter. Hasnain claimed the big wicket of Steven Smith while Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf put Pakistan in firm control, removing four main Australian batsmen during the crucial clash between Pakistan and Australia.
Shaheen Shah Afridi made an early breakthrough for Pakistan, dismissing Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short. The pacer’s sharp delivery left the Australian opener back in the pavilion, giving Pakistan the early advantage in this crucial encounter.
From the Australian side, Steven Smith made 35 runs and Josh Inglis added 18 runs in the total against the visitors.
.@iShaheenAfridi with the first strike in his second over of the day! ☝️#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/lrTEYeIHwu
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 8, 2024
Pakistan skipper Muhammad Rizwan won the toss and decided to bowl first at Adelaide Oval in the second ODI on Friday.
🚨 TOSS ALERT 🚨
Pakistan win the toss and opt to field first in the second ODI 🏏#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/o3LFl41UST
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 8, 2024
ESPNcricinfo on Thursday reported that despite its reputation as a batting paradise, Adelaide’s pitch has been tough to bat and this was proved in a low-scoring Sheffield Shield game, between South Australia and Victoria that finished earlier in the week despite the pitch was prepared to support the home side’s spinners.
It said the surface of the pitch is usually flatter for white-ball cricket with the short dimensions supporting rapid scoring. Rain shower has also been predicted on Friday morning but it would not affect the match with sunny conditions likely to appear in the afternoon.
Pakistan is trailing the three-match series 1-0, as they face a major task to level the series against Australia’s powerful bowling attack.
The Adelaide pitch has a layer of grass that could offer early bounce and movement, especially in the starting overs. The conditions could put Pakistan’s batting lineup under pressure as they face the new-ball attack from Australia’s pacers.
However, the pitch could favour batsmen as the match moves on, with some turns likely for spinners.
It is pertinent to mention that 86 ODIs have been played at Adelaide Oval, with a slight advantage for teams batting first. Pakistan, has a poor record at the venue, winning only one game in eight ODIs.
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Pakistan last won the match at Adelaide in 1996, led by Wasim Akram and supported by Saqlain Mushtaq’s five-wicket haul.
Pakistan ODI Squad: Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah (WK), Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Rizwan (WK), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi
Australia ODI Squad: Pat Cummins (c), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Josh Philippe, Matthew Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
