Australia vs. Pakistan: Pakistan Dominant in Adelaide Over Turning 28-Year-old Streak of Australia
ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) –Pakistan stunned Australia with a tour-winning show of skill and determination to take the second ODI match held in Adelaide, making it level at 1-1 for the series. For the first time in 28 years, Pakistan defeated Australia on this ground having last done so in 1996.
Australia batted first and managed only 163 runs from 35 overs. The team totally collapsed before the ferocious Pakistani bowling attack. Haris Rauf took the highest number of wickets; he got five. Sam Ayub made all the noise on the bat with 82 off just 71 balls.
Haris Rauf was like a demon for the Australian middle order as he sent big men Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardy, Glenn Maxwell, and Pat Cummins back into their pavilion. It was his best ODI figures and also the best by any Pakistani fast bowler at Adelaide.
While Australia were struggling with their batting, Rauf's aggression received a perfect combination from Ayub's explosive batting. The left-handed batsman with an eye for boundaries hit six sixes and five fours to take the fight to Australian bowlers, such as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Cummins. Along with Abdullah Shafique, who remained not out on 64, Ayub formed a robust partnership, compiling 137 runs in just 122 balls.
A win needed badly by Pakistan after their loss in Melbourne showed the resilience of them and Babar Azam with a steady 15 runs before the match ended in just 26.3 overs as the team finishes crossing the finish line.
The series now shifts to Perth for the last ODI on Sunday which will virtually be a final between the two teams seeking series supremacy. Australia needs to collect themselves and strengthen their weaknesses if they are to pick up some steam in this highly competitive series.
