Australia endured a crushing nine-wicket defeat to Pakistan in the second One Day International (ODI) at the Adelaide Oval. Despite a promising start, with the Aussies reaching 0/20 after two overs, their batting lineup collapsed, resulting in a total of just 163 runs. Openers Matt Short (19) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (13) were dismissed cheaply, while Steve Smith top-scored with 35 off 48 balls. No other Australian batsman managed to score above 20.
Pakistan’s pace attack, led by Haris Rauf, was exceptional. Rauf finished with impressive figures of 5/29, while Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets. Fox Cricket’s Mark Howard remarked, “Haris Rauf is destroying the Australians,” after Rauf bowled Glenn Maxwell.
Pakistan’s run chase was swift and decisive. Openers Saim Ayub (82 off 71 balls) and Abdullah Shafique (64 not out) made batting look effortless, combining for a 137-run partnership. It is rare to see Australia dominated in such a manner. The stunning nine-wicket victory by Pakistan at Adelaide Oval on Friday night sets the stage for a series decider in Perth on Sunday. The reigning World Champions have been far from their best in the first two matches of the series.
Haris Rauf’s phenomenal performance with the ball led some former cricket greats to question whether the Australians have an issue handling pace. A number of hopefuls for the Australian team failed to impress, raising concerns about their selection for the upcoming Champions Trophy in February. Captain Pat Cummins described the match as one of Australia’s worst efforts in recent memory. Mark Waugh speculated that the poor performance might be due to rust, while former English captain Michael Vaughan suggested that Rauf’s dominance would boost the confidence of teams facing Australia.
This loss could be particularly troubling for Australia’s hopes of winning the series, especially with the final match being played in Perth, a venue known for favoring pace bowlers. Haris Rauf is expected to pose a significant threat once again in the west. With Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood being rested ahead of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Australia’s chances of claiming the series now depend on their depth bowlers. Xavier Bartlett and Spencer Johnson will join an Australian side captained by Josh Inglis, which will also be missing key players Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. Meanwhile, Pakistan, buoyed by their two strong performances, will look to continue their winning momentum.