With a brilliant performance with bat and ball, the Pakistan cricket team achieved its biggest ever ODI victory on Australian soil, breaking a 43-year-old record. Pakistan stunned Australia with a display of not only individual brilliance but also team cohesion as they emerged victorious in the second ODI at Adelaide Oval on Friday, November 8. Saim Ayub and Haris Rauf stole the spotlight as they put together a memorable game that leveled the series and highlighted what Pakistan have done Well prepared to compete fiercely in Australia.
SAIM AYUB’s great shot against StarC__ pic.twitter.com/TM5JglpLu1
——Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 8, 2024
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Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique break records
Young opener Saim Ayub played a key role in Pakistan’s historic chase, scoring an unbeaten 82 off 90 balls. His partnership with Abdullah Shafique was nothing short of remarkable as the duo put together a 137-run stand for the opening wicket, breaking records along the way. This stand became Pakistan’s second-highest opening partnership against Australia in ODIs, after Mohsin Khan and Mudassar Nazar’s 141-run stand in 1985.
Ayub’s innings was a masterclass in controlling the attack and timing. With impeccable footwork and impressive range of shots, he kept the Australian bowlers at bay and kept Pakistan’s momentum going throughout the chase. Shafiq provided perfect support with a composed 47*, allowing Ayub to unleash his natural game. Their partnership laid a solid foundation and ensured Pakistan’s comfortable victory of 141, a score that broke several records and etched the team’s performance into the history books.
Harris Rauf’s fiery spell devastates Australia
While Pakistan’s batting style was outstanding, it was Haris Rauf’s superb bowling that sealed the victory. Lauv’s searing spell of 5/29 stunned the Australian line-up as he dismantled their midfield order with pinpoint accuracy and pace. Lauf’s athleticism and ruthless aggression made it difficult for the Australian batsmen to find a rhythm. Lauf’s wicket included a crucial scalp and his delivery to dislodge Marnus Labuschagne was particularly memorable. A well-placed short delivery saw Labuschagne slumped over the edge and neatly caught by Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps. Notably, Rizwan’s four catches off Rauf’s bowling saw him equal the record of six dismissals by a wicketkeeper in ODIs. Rauf’s efforts ensured Australia were bowled out for just 163, providing Pakistan with a manageable target and setting the stage for a series-tying victory.
Break barriers and records
There’s more to this win than just the numbers. Along the way to nine wins, Pakistan broke several records:
- Biggest ODI win against Australia (in terms of balls remaining): The chase ended with 141 balls, making it Pakistan’s most decisive win against Australia.
- Largest winning margin against Australia on Australian soil: Pakistan had set the record with a six-wicket win over Australia in Sydney in 1981, but this comprehensive win in Adelaide surpassed that record by a wide margin.
- First ODI win in Adelaide in the 21st century: Pakistan also registered its first ODI victory over Australia since the turn of the century in Adelaide.
Pakistan’s clinical bowling exposes Australia’s weaknesses
Australia’s batting woes were evident from the start. Their starting pairing of Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk failed to perform under pressure, succumbing to a lackluster effort by Rauf and Shaheen Shah. Pakistan’s relentless pace attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Fraser McGurk’s promising start, as he hit three boundaries in one over, was cut short when Afridi’s pinpoint delivery trapped him LBW.
Steven Smith tried to stabilize the innings with a top score of 35, but his dismissal marked the beginning of the end for Australia. Maxwell’s brief burst and Smith’s resistance failed to save Australia from inevitable collapse, leaving them bowled out for 163 against a batting performance that seemed unbecoming of a typically reliable Australian line-up.
