AUS vs PAK 2nd ODI: Haris Rauf, Saim Ayub Help Pakistan End 28-Year Wait For Win Against Australia in Adelaide

Add as a preferred source on Google

Haris Rauf and Saim Ayub starred as Pakistan ended a 28-year wait for an ODI win against Australia in Adelaide with a comprehensive 9-wicket series-levelling victory in the 2nd ODI at the Adelaide Oval on Friday (November 8).

After Rauf's breathtaking spell of 5 for 29 floored Australia to a paltry 163, Ayub (82 off 71 balls) and Abdullah Shafique (64* off 69 balls) eased Pakistan past the target with 23.3 overs to spare.

Ayub shared a 137-run stand with Shafique for the opening wicket as the pair smashed 8 sixes and 8 fours during their partnership which took Pakistan well within reach of 164. Shafique then carried the bat, sharing a 32-run stand with Babar Azam (15* off 20 balls) to see Pakistan home.

For Australia, Adam Zampa was the lone wicket-taker with a solitary scalp, but the spinner was on the expensive side, conceding 44 runs in 6.3 overs. The other Australian bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood finished wicketless and conceded more than 5 per over.

Earlier, opting to field first, Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan the perfect start removing the openers Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk inside the first powerplay with just 41 runs on the board in 6.1 overs.

Then arrived Rauf, who blew away the Australian batting order with his fiery spell that ended with his second fifer in ODIs. Rauf, who was awarded the player of the match, removed Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Marnus Labuschagne and Cummins to complete his five-wicket haul.

Steve Smith, the top scorer for Australia with 35 off 48 balls, fell to Mohammad Hasnain, while Naseem Shah claimed two wickets before Shaheen returned to end Australia's innings by cleaning up Zampa for 18.

With the win in the second ODI game in Adelaide, the Men in Green have levelled the series against Australia by 1-1. The win on Friday was also etched on the history books as it's Pakistan's first victory in Adelaide against Australia since 1996.

The two sides will now clash in the decider on Sunday (November 10) at the Perth Stadium in Perth. Australia will be without their Test stars, including skipper Cummins, Starc, Smith, Hazlewood and Marnus Labuschagne for the third ODI.

Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson and Josh Philippe have all been added to Australia's squad for the final ODI in Perth while Lance Morris retains his spot, having been added as cover for Hazlewood when he was playing a Sheffield Shield game for New South Wales.