Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd ODI, Highlights: Babar Azam, Imam-Ul-Haq Shine As Pakistan Beat Australia To Level Series 1-1
Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd ODI, Highlights: Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam scored inspiring centuries as Pakistan defeated Australia in the ongoing second ODI at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd ODI, Highlights: Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam scored inspiring centuries as Pakistan defeated Australia in the ongoing second ODI at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. With this win, Pakistan registered their highest successful run-chase in ODIs. Chasing a target of 349, Pakistan reached the target with six balls to spare. Earlier, Ben McDermott scored his maiden century as Australia posted a massive total of 348 for eight against Pakistan. McDermott and Travis Head gave Australia a head start after Aaron Finch was dismissed in the first over. Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Stoinis also played cameos of 59 and 49, respectively. For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi took four wickets. Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bowl. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first ODI by 88 runs. (SCORECARD)
Squads:
Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Imam-ul-Haq, Babar Azam(c), Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan(w), Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Haris Rauf, Zahid Mahmood, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Wasim Jr
Australia: Aaron Finch(c), Travis Head, Ben McDermott, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey(w), Cameron Green, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Swepson.
Pakistan Cricket Team
Australia Cricket Team
Babar Azam
Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd ODI, Live
We are back for the chase! The players stride out to the middle. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq are the openers for Pakistan. Sean Abbott to start with the ball. Here we go...
... THE RUN CHASE ...
Right then! 349 is what Pakistan have in front of them and it's a mountain to climb. The onus is on their batters to chase it down and level the series. They will need to show aggressive intent if they are to chase this. But can they do so against the Australian bowlers? Let's wait and watch how the chase unfolds.
Ben McDermott (104) comes for a quick chat. Says that he is excited to get his first hundred and he is happy for Marnus Labuschagne as well. He is focused and tells that it's still half the job done. Mentions that getting a hundred and winning the series would be nice. Shares that the idea was to attack in the middle overs and find the boundaries. Adds that he is loving every minute of being here in Pakistan. Tells that it's a very well-constructed inning from them. Praises Travis Head and Labuschagne for their knocks and lauds the efforts of Marcus Stoinis and Sean Abbott who finished things well.
Pakistan again have a huge target in front of them! The return of Shaheen Afridi helped Pakistan to get an early wicket but after that, they couldn't capitalize on it. The runs were coming left, right and centre but Zahid Mahmood finally provided the much-needed breakthrough to bring Pakistan back into the game. The pressure was exerted after Mohammad Wasim got rid of Ben McDermott and they did well to contain the runs. The bowlers chipped in with timely wickets and were decent in the death. But they had again conceded a little too many upfront and now have a huge target to chase. Shaheen Afridi did well to get 4 wickets on his return but Mohammad Wasim was clearly the best of the pacers.
A good toss to lose for Australia! Finch's early dismissal was the only blip as Travis Head and Ben McDermott then built a strong and sturdy partnership. The duo dominated with their counter-attacking strokes and made the bowlers scratch their heads. Head got out later but McDermott and Labuschagne played sensational cricket with the former getting his maiden ODI century while the latter got a fifty. Australia started to lose the plot at the backend but Stoinis and Abbott made sure that the team ended with a big total. The Aussies will be happy with how their batters have set the platform for their bowlers and will be confident of sealing the series.
Australia just got over 300 in the first ODI but this time made great use of the batting conditions and have put up 348 on the board. Significant contributions from their batters have put them in a good situation to seal the series and they will be very pleased with the total. The Pakistan bowlers were off-colour initially but did a decent job at the backend. Their batters now will need to put up a spirited performance if they are to stay alive in the series.
Dot ball to end proceedings! Zampa walks across the stumps and Shaheen spears in a full ball around leg. The batter misses and that will be it. Shaheen would not have minded a wide there. He finishes on 4 wickets. Australia end on 348/8!
Shaheen serves it very full and on middle, Nathan Ellis drives it to extra cover and takes a single.
Adam Zampa is the new batsman in.
OUT! Shaheen has four now! Full toss, around middle and off, Abbott stands back and tries to heave it over the leg side but gets a top edge. It flies to short third man and Haris Rauf takes the catch safely. The umpire quickly checks for the waist-high no ball but it's fine. Abbott falls after a handy cameo.
Too full and around leg, Abbott shuffles across and then tries to flick. He gets a leading edge and it flies towards mid-wicket. Shaheen runs after the ball himself and they get two.
A yorker around off, Abbott squeezes it out to the gap at deep cover and comes back for the second run.
Nathan Ellis walks out to bat.
OUT! CAUGHT! Fuller in length, around leg and following the batter, Stoinis lofts it in the air towards long off but it doesn't have enough wings to clear the fielder in the deep. Babar Azam judges the catch perfectly over his head and Stoinis departs for a well-constructed 49.
Shaheen Afridi to bowl the final over.
Big swing and a miss! Short and outside off, slower in pace, Sean winds up for a massive slog over the leg side but misses. 11 from the over, Australia nearing 350.
FOUR! Wow, what a cracking shot! A low full toss on middle, never easy to hit those. But Sean Abbott brings his bottom hand into play and drills it down the ground for a boundary.
Angling down the leg side, on a length, it's nudged towards short fine leg for one.
Play and a miss. A slower bouncer around off, Stoinis tries to play the ramp shot but misses. The Hulk is not happy with himself.