Pakistan secured a dominant nine-wicket victory over Australia in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval on Friday, with standout performances from Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub. This win sets up an exciting series decider in Perth on Sunday.
Saim Ayub’s Aggressive Knock Leads the Chase
Chasing a modest 164-run target, Pakistan’s openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique started cautiously. The early overs saw just one boundary as they patiently built their innings. However, Ayub soon found his rhythm and became the aggressor, hitting boundaries and sixes with ease. He brought up his half-century by the 15th over, showcasing his class with both power and finesse.
Ayub eventually scored an impressive 82 off 71 balls, including five boundaries and six sixes. Although he missed out on a maiden ODI century, being dismissed by Adam Zampa in the 21st over, his contribution was vital to Pakistan’s win.
Shafique, who played a more composed innings, remained unbeaten on 64 off 69 balls. Captain Babar Azam chipped in with a quick 15, sealing the victory with a six.
Haris Rauf Shines with a Five-Wicket Haul
Earlier in the day, Haris Rauf led Pakistan’s bowling attack, claiming five wickets as Australia crumbled to a total of 163 in just 35 overs. Rauf’s pace and accuracy were too much for the Australian middle order, and his devastating spell earned him the Player of the Match award.
Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone early, removing both Australian openers, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short, with the new ball. Rauf then tore through the middle order, dismissing key players and keeping the Australian batters under constant pressure. Afridi finished with three wickets, while Mohammad Hasnain and Naseem Shah took one wicket each.
This was Rauf’s second five-wicket haul in ODIs, and his consistent form with the ball has been crucial for Pakistan throughout the series.
Australia Struggles with the Bat
For Australia, Steven Smith top-scored with 35 runs, but the rest of the lineup struggled to make an impact. Despite several batters reaching double figures, none managed to anchor the innings, leaving Australia well short of a competitive total.
Rizwan Equals World Record for Catches
Pakistan’s captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan had a memorable day behind the stumps, equalling the world record for most catches in an ODI innings with six. Rizwan could have set a new record but dropped a chance offered by Adam Zampa late in the game. He now shares the record with eight others, including fellow Pakistani Sarfaraz Ahmed.
Ayub Praises Team Effort
After the match, Saim Ayub credited the team’s positive approach. “The most important thing is the team won. We planned to be positive and not think about the result, but focus on how we played as a team. Credit goes to Haris Rauf, but the other bowlers also supported him well.”
Cummins Reflects on Tough Loss
Australia captain Pat Cummins acknowledged that his team underperformed. “It wasn’t one of our best days. You hope to get more than 160, but their bowlers were excellent. We tried to attack but it wasn’t our day,” Cummins said.
Series Decider in Perth
With the series tied 1-1, the final match at Perth Stadium on Sunday will determine the winner of this closely contested series.
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