A sensational spell of fast bowling from Haris Rauf followed by a fluent batting display from Saim Ayub helped Pakistan beat Australia in the 2nd ODI at the Adelaide Oval on Friday, November 8. Player of the Match (POTM) Rauf, set up the series-levelling nine-wicket win with a searing spell of 5/29 and demolished the Australian batting order.
Notably, Pakistan have registered their biggest ODI win against Australia in Australia in terms of both balls (141 balls) and wickets (9) remaining. Previously, Pakistan's biggest ODI triumph over Australia in Australia had come in Sydney on December 17, 1981, by six wickets. Their previous best ODI win over Australia in terms of balls remaining (73 balls) had come in Lahore on April 2, 2022
Records broken or created by Pakistan after their win over Australia in Adelaide
- Biggest ODI win for Pakistan over Australia in terms of balls to spare (141 balls)
- Biggest ODI win for Pakistan in terms of balls remaining on Australian soil (141 balls)
- Biggest ODI win for Pakistan in Australia in terms of wickets remaining (nine wickets)
- First ODI win for Pakistan vs Australia in Adelaide in the 21st century
- Highest opening partnership between Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique (137 runs)
- Lowest ODI total for Australia vs Pakistan batting first (163 runs)
Rauf's scorching spell sucked the life out of Australia's batting. Rauf accounted for Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummins and registered his second five-wicket haul in ODIs. He was fully supported by Shaheen Shah Afridi who finished with figures of 3/26 in his eight overs. Australia couldn't even play their quota of overs and got bundled out for 163 with 15 overs remaining.
In reply, Pakistan openers Ayub and Abdullah Shafique (64* off 69 deliveries) got off to a circumspect start but launched an onslaught after getting their eyes in. Ayub and Shafique took the attack to the Aussies and dismantled their bowling attack. Ayub missed out on his maiden ODI hundred by 18 runs as he got out to Adam Zampa.
Babar Azam smashed a six in the 27th over to help Pakistan get over the line. The series decider will be played in Perth on November 10.
