Pakistan versus Australia ODI Series, 2024

2nd ODI

Haris Rauf and the openers have guided the Pakistan team to series equality

Australia scored 163 all out in 35 overs, where as Pakistan scored 169/1 in 26.3 overs.

So, finally Pakistan beat Australia by nine wickets.

A match-defining spell from Haris Rauf (5-29), followed by a fluent 137-run opening stand between Saim Ayub (82) and Abdullah Shafique (64*), powered Pakistan to a dominant nine-wicket victory over Australia in the second ODI at the Adelaide Oval.

This was Pakistan’s first win over Australia on Australian soil since 2017.

Rauf and Pakistan’s pace attack set up the win by dismissing Australia for a paltry 163 in just 35 overs.

Once the target was set, it was only a matter of whether Pakistan could maintain their composure in the chase, a task Ayub and Shafique made look effortless, though Ayub fell just short of a century.

The surface, though still offering some movement with the new ball, seemed to ease out in the second half, allowing Pakistan’s openers to play more freely.

Ayub, in particular, was in a hurry, hitting a series of aggressive boundaries, including a six off Pat Cummins, and two fours and another six off Mitchell Starc.

His 71-ball knock, although short of a hundred, was the catalyst for Pakistan’s successful chase.

Shafique, playing a more measured innings, supported Ayub well, and together they ensured there were no real hiccups for Pakistan.

Babar Azam joined Shafique to finish the game with more than 23 overs to spare.

Earlier, Pakistan’s decision to bowl first on a pitch with a tinge of green paid off as their pace bowlers, led by Rauf, exploited the conditions brilliantly.

There was consistent movement in the air and off the pitch, and Australia’s batters struggled to cope.

Steve Smith (35) was the only Australian batter to make it past 20, summarizing their disappointing batting effort.

Australia had started well with Matthew Short driving two fine boundaries off Shaheen Afridi’s first over and Jake Fraser-McGurk smashing three boundaries off Naseem Shah.

However, Afridi and Naseem quickly found their rhythm and began breaking through.

Afridi trapped Fraser-McGurk LBW with a late inswinger, and Naseem could have dismissed Short if Afridi had held onto a catch at deep square leg.

Smith, who had also started well, fell to a loose short-and-wide delivery from Mohammad Hasnain, and soon after, Rauf took control.

He created chances from the outset, including a dropped catch off Smith at backward point, and then struck again in his second spell, removing Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne.

The pitch didn’t ease up as expected, allowing Pakistan’s pacers to remain a threat throughout.

Despite some resistance from Aaron Hardie and Glenn Maxwell, Rauf’s relentless pace and precision dismantled Australia’s middle order.

Only a late flurry from Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa gave Australia any hope, but they were eventually bowled out for just 163.

Pakistan’s wicketkeeper, Mohammad Rizwan, had a field day behind the stumps, taking six catches and coming close to becoming the first ODI wicketkeeper to effect seven dismissals in a match, though he put down a skier off Zampa towards the end.

It was a memorable day for Rizwan, especially after the narrow defeat in the series opener in Melbourne.

The series now stands level, with the decider to be played on Sunday, November 10, in Perth.