Pakistan Thrashed Australia in Australia
In a dominant performance, Pakistan levelled the series against Australia with a commanding nine-wicket win at the Adelaide Oval. Led by Haris Rauf’s sensational five-wicket haul and a sparkling 82-run knock from Saim Ayub, Pakistan chased down Australia’s modest total of 163 with 23.3 overs to spare. This emphatic victory dealt a heavy blow to the ODI World Champions, showcasing Pakistan’s bowling strength and a flourishing opening partnership.
Rauf’s Fiery Spell Dismantles Australia
Haris Rauf delivered a second consecutive spellbinding performance, ripping through Australia’s middle order. Rauf’s standout delivery to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne was reminiscent of Test match precision, helping him secure the second five-wicket haul of his ODI career. Australia’s batting lineup struggled against Pakistan’s relentless pace attack, collapsing from 79 for 2 to 163 all out. Rauf’s efforts, supported by Mohammad Rizwan’s six dismissals behind the stumps, restricted the hosts in what turned out to be a one-sided contest.
Ayub’s Flourishing Knock Steers Pakistan’s Chase
Chasing 163, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique opened cautiously, seeing off the new ball under challenging conditions. Ayub, initially conservative, soon found his rhythm, launching Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc into the stands in a display of powerful stroke play. He reached his fifty off 52 balls, lifting Pakistan to a dominant position. Though he missed a maiden century, Ayub’s partnership of 137 with Shafique provided Pakistan with an unassailable advantage.
Pakistan’s Bowling Prowess in Action
Put into bat, Australia’s new opening pair of Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short failed to impress. Fraser-McGurk hit three quick boundaries but was dismissed lbw by Shaheen Shah Afridi within the first seven overs. Though Short was granted a reprieve when Afridi dropped a catch, he soon departed as Australia’s aggressive approach faltered. Steven Smith’s 35 proved to be the top score as he too fell under pressure, eventually top-edging to short cover. Pakistan’s bowlers, including Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain, maintained relentless pressure, leaving Australia unable to build partnerships.
Rauf’s Game-Changing Interventions
Rauf’s first wicket came with Josh Inglis gloving a short ball down the leg side, but his dismissal of Labuschagne—a perfectly angled delivery that forced an edge—marked a turning point. Aaron Hardie followed similarly, while Glenn Maxwell fell attempting an ambitious pull. Rauf’s fifth wicket arrived with Cummins skying a top edge, marking a memorable day for the fast bowler.Â
Pakistan Sets up Series Decider
This crushing victory sets up a thrilling series decider in Perth on Sunday, where Australia, led by stand-in captain Josh Inglis, will miss several Test-bound players preparing for their series against India. Pakistan’s clinical display in Adelaide—both with the bat and ball—showcases their growing confidence as they face Australia one last time in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the series.
