Haris Rauf (5 for 29), Saim Ayub (84 runs) guide Green Shirts to historical victory against Australia
Sports Bulletin Report
Adelaide (Australia): Haris Rauf’s second five wicket-haul and half-centuries by Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique led Pakistan to a nine-wicket win over Australia in the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval in Adelaide. The win also leveled the three-match ODI series 1-1, with the series decider to be played at the Perth Stadium in Perth on 10 November.
Chasing 164 to win, Pakistan opening pair of Abdullah and Saim got off to a flying start as they knitted a 137-run partnership for the first wicket. Saim, playing his second ODI, scored his maiden half-century, scoring a 71-ball 82, which included five fours and six sixes.
The departure of Saim in the 21st over brought Babar Azam to the crease and the pair of Abdullah and Babar added an unbroken 32 runs for the second wicket take Pakistan over the line. Abdullah’s undefeated innings of 64 off 69 balls, included four fours and three sixes and it was his fifth half-century in this format
Earlier, after being put into bat, the visiting fast bowlers never allowed the hosts to score freely as the wickets continued to fall. Right-arm pacer Haris, playing his 39th ODI, was the most successful bowler, bagging five wickets for 29 runs in eight overs. His fellow fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi, who took two wickets in the first ODI, grabbed three wickets for 26 in eight overs. Captain Mohammad Rizwan grabbed six catches behind the stumps, missing out on a record seven catches.
For Australia, former captain Steven Smith, coming to bat at number three scored 35 off 48 balls, which included five fours and a six.
Scores in brief:
Pakistan beat Australia by nine wickets
Australia 163 all out, 35 overs (Steven Smith 35; Haris Rauf 5-29, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3-26)
Pakistan 169-1, 26.3 overs (Saim Ayub 82, Abdullah Shafique 64 not out)
Player of the match – Haris Rauf
