Australia and Pakistan’s rivalry is an enduring one that has provided fans worldwide with numerous unforgettable moments over time. From thrilling finishes to stellar performances, these matches highlight why cricket remains so beloved worldwide.
Abbott and Zampa aim to stay safe as they chase their target, keeping scores ticking over with singles that pose minimal risks.
History of the rivalry
Pakistan national cricket team and Australia national cricket team have had a long, rich history of competition in Test matches; 72 Test matches between them have been held with Australia winning 37 and Pakistan 15; 20 of those games ended up as draws.
It has been an eventful and challenging year for Ireland, yet they ended it on an optimistic note with victories against England at home and Australia away in ODI series play. Now the focus shifts to shorter formats of cricket – T20Is.
Pakistan made an outstanding start in their second One Day International, with Saim Ayub scoring an unbeaten 64 from 24 balls – including three sixes off Nathan Lyon and an over the boundary hit against Zampa – to lead their innings off in spectacular fashion.
Josh Hazlewood returns after missing game one and shows no rust with his first three deliveries. Ayub plays an audacious but safe shot on the fourth delivery to slice through gully for two runs before taking another on his fifth delivery with an accurate sand wedge chip over mid-on and mid-off fielders for another two runs, taking Pakistan’s total up to 141 and giving them an early advantage in their chase of their target of 250 runs. They are ahead of schedule!
Key players
Pakistan was victorious against world champion Australia in three-match One Day International series held Down Under since 2002, winning by 2-1 with Babar Azam leading their run and captain Rizwan’s on-field tactics providing much-needed success for Pakistan to take back into Zimbabwe for further white-ball cricket action.
As Australia pushed ahead towards their target, Shaheen sent shockwaves through the Pakistan camp by appearing to suffer a thumb injury that required medical treatment before returning to bowl the remainder of his over.
Stoinis attempts to play over a short ball but its edge causes it to sail safely into Hasnain’s safe hands for his first wicket of the innings. Hasnain had been looking forward to adding runs but must now focus on taking wickets quickly in order to stop Australia’s innings from progressing further.
Pakistan have made an outstanding start to the 2018 ODI season with two victories over Australia in quick succession, earning them favouritism to win this series and also be successful at Border-Gavaskar Trophy later on this year. Prior to starting this ODI series they had already played eight ODIs over just under a year period.
Matches
Australia and Pakistan have faced off in 26 One Day International (ODI) matches since 1975. Australia have won 21 of these ODIs while 5 have resulted in draws. The inaugural One Day International between these teams took place on August 14, 1975.
Glenn Maxwell hit an unbeaten 19-ball 43 as Australia defeated Pakistan by 29 runs during a rain-affected match at Brisbane’s Gabba on Tuesday. Australia were dominant with bat and bowl, but struggled against Pakistan’s fast bowling attack.
Haris Rauf led an incredible Pakistani attack featuring Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi and Mohammad Hasnain that mercilessly decimated Australia’s top order batting lineup – Sean Abbott was their only batsman with more than 30 runs before Afridi sent him packing in the final over.
Australia’s new-ball pairing of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have both been impressive thus far. Hazlewood, 33 years old, boasts an excellent record against Pakistan, which saw Jake Fraser-McGurk dismissed by Afridi off his second over. Ayub edged one from Cummins to Josh Inglis at backward point for one run; but returned to form by catching Saim Ayub off the last ball of that over leaving Australia at 61-0 after 13 overs.
Memorable moments
Pakistan are looking to build on their tarnished T20 World Cup exit by defeating Australia in three T20 series at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Australia are going through their own transition period and have rested key bowlers such as Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood so as to give fringe players more opportunities.
Saim Shafique suffers a brain fade while trying to run down an Abbott ball but misjudges its pace, sending his stumps flying up in the air and nearly being run out, but for Stoinis who had strategically positioned himself mid-off and issued the timely clap that saved him.
Rauf continued his efforts with an aggressive over, taking an edge off Smith but surviving a review. Pakistan then gave Australia another scare when his delivery came closer to hitting Maxwell’s back leg; luckily though he managed to fall safely over the rope.
Babar Azam returns to the crease and plays through an over before looking for another big hit against Zampa; his hard hit comes off and goes for four as Pakistan inches closer to victory.
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