Pakistan’s not-out batters Babar Azam, center, and Abdullah Shafique, left, shake hands with Australia’s Steve Smith their Pakistan won their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)
As Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan scored a nine-wicket win over world champions Australia in the second ODI of the three-match ODI series played at Adelaide, it was the Men in Green’s first win Down Under in 7 years. The last time Pakistan won against Australia in Australia was in January 2017, when the Mohammad Hafiz-led Pakistan team scored a six-wicket win over Steve Smith-led Australian team in the second ODI of the five-match series played at Melbourne. Pakistan had then lost the remaining three matches of the series to lose the series 1-4.
On Friday, fast bowler Haris Rauf took five wickets to see the world champions bundled out for 163 runs in 35 overs before Saim Ayub (82) and Abdullah Shafiq (64 no) set up the nine-wicket win.
“We are so happy to win this game. Yeah, Pakistan fans come out to see us everywhere in the world. I’ve played a lot for Melbourne Stars, so I know these conditions about where we bowl,” said Rauf post the win at Adelaide.
It was also Pakistan’s 35th win in ODIs against Australia. While Australia had matched the record of highest number of ODI wins against Pakistan held by West Indies with their 71st win against Pakistan in the first ODI of the series at Melbourne, Pakistan’s win on Friday was the team’s 18th win in Australia in 54 matches played in Australia.
It means that Pakistan now have the highest number of wins in ODIs against Australia in their own backyard out of all the other Asian teams. Sri Lanka sits at the second spot with 16 wins out of 56 matches while India is placed third with 14 wins out of 54 matches.
It was also the biggest ODI win for Pakistan over Australia in terms of balls remaining as Pakistan won the match with 141 balls remaining. Additionally, it was Pakistan’s biggest win by wickets against Australia surpassing the team’s six-wicket win against the Aussies in Sydney in Benson & Hedges World Series Cup in 1981.
The opening partnership of 137 runs between Ayub and Shafique also became Pakistan’s second highest opening partnership against Australia in ODIs with the 141-run stand between Mudassar Nazar and Mohsin Khan in 1985 being the highest.
“Obviously this win gives us confidence. We want to keep that confidence going. All bowlers had plans and they worked well,” said Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan after the win.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
First uploaded on: 08-11-2024 at 18:01 IST
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