Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Haris Rauf’s blistering 5 for 29 and opener Saim Ayub’s 82 off 71 helped Pakistan decimate Australia in the second ODI by nine wickets at the Adelaide Oval on November 8. The spotlight belonged to Haris Rauf, whose searing pace dismantled Australia’s batting lineup for the second consecutive game to put Pakistan at level in the ODI series after seven years.
His dismissal of Marnus Labuschagne was particularly sensational — a delivery that straightened off the seam, drawing Labuschagne into an edge for a textbook dismissal. Rauf’s spell left the Australian middle-order reeling, with four of his five scalps caught by wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who tied the record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in an ODI, with six catches.
Australia struggled from the onset, collapsing from a promisin
g 79-2 to a meager 163 all out. Steven Smith’s 35 was the top score in a batting performance that left the world champions exposed, especially on a pitch that played true later in the day. Despite the green covering of grass, Pakistan’s run chase later proved that the conditions were hardly as testing as the Australians made them appear.
Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique provided Pakistan with a solid foundation during their pursuit of the modest target. Ayub, after a slow start, ignited the chase with an array of brilliant strokes. He was initially cautious, scoring just seven off 27 balls, but a well-timed square drive off Josh Hazlewood unlocked his innings.
From that moment on, Ayub dominated, launching Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc into the stands and sweeping Adam Zampa for six in an electrifying display. His 52-ball fifty was punctuated by a thrilling pick-up flick off Starc for six, a shot that underscored his growing confidence.
Though he fell just shy of a century, slicing a catch to third after an impressive opening partnership of 137, Ayub’s efforts had effectively sealed the game. Shafique, who initially took a back seat, joined the fun later, smashing Zampa for a six and reaching his own fifty off 57 balls. Pakistan cruised to victory, with captain Babar Azam capping off the chase in style by pulling Zampa for six.
Australia’s batting woes started early as their experimental opening pair, Jake Fraser-McGurk (13) and Matt Short (19), faltered. Fraser-McGurk showed promise with three quick boundaries, including a back-foot cover drive, but he was trapped lbw by Shaheen Shah Afridi while attempting a drive.
Short was given a reprieve when Shaheen dropped a simple catch at deep square leg but soon misplayed a cut shot to cover, where Babar Azam held a sharp catch, ending his innings.
Smith tried to stabilize Australia’s innings with a brisk 35, including a pulled six off Mohammad Hasnain. However, he was lucky to survive on 14 when a cut shot burst through Ayub’s hands at point. Rauf eventually claimed Smith’s wicket with a bouncer that forced a top edge to Rizwan.
