Pakistan 169 for 1 (Ayub 82, Shafique 64*, Zampa 1-44) beaten Australia 163 (Smith 35, Rauf 5-29, Afridi 3-26) by nine wickets
Steven Smith’s 35 was the highest score in a poor batting performance on a pitch that had good grass cover but did not warrant such a collapse, as Pakistan’s run chase later confirmed, the Australia falling 79 for 2 at 163 on total. In the end, Rauf was 17-0-96-8 in two innings, his pace continuing to sow uncertainty in the footwork of several Australian batters.
Given the small size of the target, there was no pressure on Pakistan and the openers bowled reasonably against the new balls which continued to chip away. They were helped by a ball from Starc which climbed for five gaps and four overthrows when Jake Fraser-McGurk missed a shy one which would have taken out Shafique.
As Ayub walked away, Shafique looked on, but later joined the party with a swept six off Zampa and a fine draw against Hazlewood en route to a fifty-seven ball. Australia’s big four ODIs had no response.
After being put into bat, their new opening pair had once again been unconvincing. Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short each had a chance to defend their style before Adelaide, talking about the support they get from coaches for being ultra-aggressive, but they were in the pavilion within seven overs.
Fraser-McGurk’s early signs had been promising in the second when he smashed three boundaries, including a particularly eye-catching back-foot cover drive, but he was pinned in weight by Shaheen Shah Afridi as he looked to drive complete delivery. Short should have fallen on 8 when Shaheen knocked down a comfortable catch over the rope at deep square leg, but it didn’t prove too costly for Pakistan. Shaheen had a touch of fortune in making amends when Short clipped a wide delivery to cover where Babar held a clean catch.
Australia’s early pace continued to be brisk as Smith again looked in good touch, including a pulled six off Mohammad Hasnain, although he was lucky to escape on 14 when a cut shot against Rauf broke out in the hands of Saim Ayub at that time.
Rauf, however, was not to be denied for long. His first wicket wasn’t a classic as Josh Inglis had a glove on the leg side, but after that he was very classy. Labuschagne received a perfect Test-style delivery that straightened around off stump, forced him into play and took the edge off Rizwan.
Aaron Hardie fell similarly despite bowling forward for a fuller delivery and the last of Australia’s frontline batters departed when Glenn Maxwell, after a reverse sweep for six off Ayub, dragged an attempt of draw.
In between Rauf’s incisions, Hasnain claimed the key wicket of Smith he was sure had lost the ball before he left. Smith shuffled into his crease and was very close to going underweight – the DRS showing it was the umpire’s call while hitting a good chunk of leg stump – but the next ball Smith achieved a sharp top edge on a short, wide delivery.
Naseem Shah took his first wicket when he found Starc’s outside edge and Rauf’s fifth came with a top edge from Cummins.
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor at PK Press Club
