ADELAIDE – A five-wicket haul by Haris Rauf and 82-run innings by Saim Ayub helped Pakistan achieve a dominating win over Australia in second of the three-match ODI series at Adelaide Oval on Friday.
The Team Green achieved the 164 runs target for the loss of one wicket in 27th over. Ayub and Abdullah Shafique built a strong opening partnership, putting Pakistan closer to the win, before the former was dismissed by Adam Zampa.
At this point, Babar joined Shafique and they jointly surpassed the target, helping their side to level the series 1-1.
Earlier, Pakistan won toss and opted to bowl first as the decision proved favourable for them. Haris Rauf and Shaheen Afridi shared eight wickets, bowling out Australia for 163 in the match.
Rauf claimed five-for while Afridi took three-wicket haul while Mohammad Hasnain and Naseem Shah grabbed one wicket each.
Pakistan attack bowler Shaheen Afridi got early breakthrough as he removing opening pair – Matthew short and Jake Fraser-McGurk.
Mohammad Haris removed five key players, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell and Pat Cummints while Mohammad Hasnain took wicket of Steve Smit in a major blow to hosts.
Steve Smith scored 35 runs while no other batter could cross the 20-run mark.
On Monday, Aussies claimed two-wicket victory in the first game on Monday. Chasing 204 runs, Pat Cummins-led Australia reached the target in 33.3 overs with the skipper playing a crucial hand of unbeaten 32 off 31 balls hitting four fours.
Pakistan’s pace quartet of Haris Rauf (3-67), Shaheen Shah Afridi (2-43), Naseem Shah (1-39) and Mohammad Hasnain (1-51) shared seven wickets among them but couldn’t keep the defeat at bay.
