That’s how the Pakistan cricket team takes revenge and makes a record-breaking comeback. Yesterday, Pakistan defeats Australia for the second ODI where Pakistani batsmen thrashed Australian bowlers and took the whole match on one side.
Fakhar Zaman took a great start that helped others to contribute and support him. After the first ODI’s criticism, Pakistani batsmen look like took the instructions seriously and demolished the visitor’s bowlers.
Even the skipper Babar Azam also played an impressive inning and scored a hundred in his style. Along with him, Imam-ul-Haq who has been under the shadow of criticism also scored a hundred and shut everyone’s mouth.
Pakistan defeated Australia in a one-sided match
The host won the toss and decided to take the bowl first. Australia just like the first ODI had a great start, Travis Head leading his side with heavy shots and scoring runs.
Meanwhile, the skipper bowled by Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first bowl and stunned the visitors.
Ben McDermott joined the party with Travis and increased the runs on the scoreboard. Ben scored 104 and got out by Mohammed Wasim. Travis Head was stopped by Zahid Mahmood at 89 runs and their Pakistani bowlers got the rhythm again.
Marnus Labuschagne and Stoinis scored some great runs to give a big score target. Shaheen Afridi took four crucial wickets and Australia was all out at 348 runs in total.
It was a huge target for Pakistan, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq took the responsibility to chase down the target. Fakhar scored 67 runs and got out. Babar Azam skipper joined Imam-ul-Haq cleared the path towards the target with their marvelous innings.
Both of them played like tigers and showed the world that the Pakistan cricket team got the capability to achieve such a huge target. Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam both scored tons to give a pure lead.
It’s the first against Australia since 2017, so, that’s another big achievement for the green side.
Babar Azam first batsman to score 100 against Australia
Babar Azam scripted history and stole the limelight of the evening as he became the first Pakistan captain to score a hundred against Australia in ODI cricket.
No Pakistan captain had ever scored a century against Australia in the history of ODI cricket with the previous high score belonging to former skipper Imran Khan. Imran had scored 82 runs in the Brisbane ODI in 1990 against Australia.
After Imran, Javed Miandad also managed to score 74 not out in Sharjah in 1987 while former captains Inzamam-ul-Haq and Mohammad Hafeez also made it to the list with a high score of 72 in ODIs against Australia.
His winning knock against Australia also helped him to achieve another huge record. He became the fastest batter to score 15 ODI tons, bringing up the milestone in his 83rd inning. This was 23 innings faster than third-placed Virat Kohli.
2022 started with some great news for the Pakistani cricket team. Especially for the skipper, Babar Azam who became the first and only Pakistani player to win the ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year Award.
‘Proud moment’ – Babar Azam
Babar Azam shared his feeling about this special record-breaking win against Australia. “The plan was to bat positively and bat in partnerships. When there are wickets in hand, it becomes easy towards the end and there won’t be any pressure on the required rate. We gave 20 runs too many and hopefully, we will do better in the next game.”
“This is my hometown and it is a proud moment for me and the team. The overall effort from the team is very pleasing. Last time we couldn’t chase it down and today it was a complete team effort,” he added.
Imam-ul-Haq also shared, “We have that belief that we can win matches, and when you play so much cricket together you know each other’s weaknesses and strengths and that helps. Needed the win for the team to boost up. They are a good batting and fielding side, and we wanted to come on the right side of the result today.”
‘Guys were struggling’ – Aaron Finch
“We felt we needed something around the 300-mark. It was made easier by Travis who got off to a flier. We felt like we needed a spinner based on how dry the square was.
We have come here with an open mind to be flexible and select the side,” said Aaron Finch in a post-match presentation.
“The guys were struggling at the back end to hold the ball. It is easy for the set batters, but it is tough for the new ones coming in. That’s something we need to look at when we chase, to cash in when set,” he added.
The series has been tied with one all and the decisive series will be played tomorrow. Fans are waiting for the greens to win the series and make another history too. After the ODI, Pakistan, and Australia face off for the T20 format, where the Greens are ready to take revenge for the T20 World Cup semi-final.
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