Pakistan has finally broken their 28-year losing streak against Australia at Adelaide Oval. In a thrilling second ODI, Mohammad Rizwan’s squad clinched a 9-wicket win, their first at this iconic venue since 1996. This victory is one of Australia’s heaviest defeats against Pakistan, underscoring the visitors’ strong all-around performance.
After losing the first ODI, Pakistan bounced back spectacularly. Their bowlers restricted Australia to 163, the third-lowest total for the home team in ODIs against Pakistan. While Australia had entered the series hoping for a 3-0 sweep, they’ll now head into the decider with the series tied 1-1 and some pressing questions to answer.
A Comfortable Chase Led by Openers
Chasing 164, Pakistan’s openers, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, set the tone with a balanced start, cautiously handling the Australian attack of Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood. By the end of the powerplay, they had moved to a steady 47/0, neutralizing the early threats.
Once they settled, Saim Ayub accelerated the pace, propelling Pakistan forward with a quick 82 off 67 balls, including 5 fours and 6 sixes. His maiden ODI fifty gave Pakistan a solid foundation, and he missed out on a century by just 18 runs. Meanwhile, Abdullah Shafique, initially struggling, found his footing and added a valuable 64 off 69 balls, his fifth ODI half-century. The pair’s strong partnership effectively took the game out of Australia’s hands.
Former captain Babar Azam delivered the final blow, lofting Adam Zampa for a six that secured the historic victory.
Also Read: Here’s What Pakistanis Did Yesterday During The Australia Vs. Pakistan Cricket Match!
Mohammad Rizwan Reflects on the Win
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan praised his team’s effort, particularly the bowlers. He emphasized confidence going into the next game, saying, “A win is a win, and this one’s big for us. We’re taking this momentum to Perth. We bowled first and took advantage of the conditions. Haris was outstanding, and it’s great to see him shine after his hard work.”
Pat Cummins Acknowledges Australia’s Off-Day
Australian captain Pat Cummins admitted it wasn’t their finest performance. “It wasn’t our best day out there. We didn’t get the runs we wanted, but credit to Pakistan—they bowled well. We’ll regroup, take this as a lesson, and prepare for Perth.”
The Pakistan cricket team’s form is unstoppable. It started in October when they defeated England in the second test series at home by a big margin.
