Haris Rauf put on a brilliant display of fast bowling, claiming five wickets for 29 runs as Australia was bowled out for just 163 in the second One-Day International against Pakistan on Friday. Rauf's relentless pace dismantled the Australian batting line-up, leaving them with a challenging total to defend. Rauf, who came close to securing a win for Pakistan in the first ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday, was in superb form again, troubling the Australian batsmen with his accuracy. By consistently hitting the right lengths, he managed to find the outside edges of the bat, taking crucial wickets to dismiss Australia for just 163.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan was in excellent form behind the stumps, taking five catches—four of them off Haris Rauf's bowling. He nearly had a sixth when he dropped a top-edge off Adam Zampa (18) before Australia was dismissed for 163 in just 35 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-26) provided Pakistan with an early breakthrough during the first powerplay after captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and chose to field. Jake Fraser-McGurk gave Australia a strong start, hitting three well-timed boundaries off Naseem Shah's opening over. However, Afridi's double strike quickly slowed Australia's progress, putting the hosts on the back foot. Afridi had a moment of misfortune when he dropped Matt Short at deep fine leg, with the ball slipping through his hands and racing to the boundary. However, the left-arm fast bowler made up for the error by having Short caught at covers and then trapping Jake Fraser-McGurk plumb in front to leave Australia struggling.
Afridi wrapped up Australia's subpar innings when Adam Zampa played a full delivery back onto his stumps. Prior to his dismissal, Zampa had provided some resistance, hitting Naseem Shah for a six and a four in one over, helping Australia surpass the 150-run mark.Rauf, who had claimed 3-67 in the first match before Australia secured a narrow two-wicket victory, then tore through the middle order. Steve Smith was the only notable resistance, scoring 35 off 48 balls, but he too fell, chasing a wide short ball from Mohammad Hasnain and edging it behind the stumps.
Australia made one change to their lineup for the second ODI, with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood replacing Sean Abbott in the team that narrowly defeated Pakistan in the first match. Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood will all be rested for the final match of the series on Sunday in Perth. The decision comes ahead of Australia's upcoming five-Test series against India, which begins on November 22 in the same city.
Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis has been appointed interim captain for the final ODI in Perth. He will also lead the Australian side in next week's three T20 matches against Pakistan, with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head unavailable due to paternity leave.
(Source: AP)
BD-Pratidin English/Mazdud
