Pakistan 169 for 1 (Ayub 82, Shafique 64*, Zampa 1-44) won 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 display on a pitch that had good grass cover but did not justify such a collapse, as Pakistan’s run chase later confirmed, with Australia falling for 79. from 2 to 163 in total. In the end, Rauf had figures of 17-0-96-8 in two innings, and his pace continued to cause uncertainty in the footwork of several of Australia’s batsmen.
Given the small target, there was no pressure on Pakistan and the openers played sensibly against the new balls that continued to nibble. They were helped by a ball from Starc that went wide for five wides and four knocks when Jake Fraser-McGurk missed a timid one that would have kept Shafique out.
As Ayub fired, Shafique watched, but then joined in the fun with a sweep for six off Zampa and a beautiful pull against Hazlewood en route to a 57-ball fifty. Australia’s ODI big four had no response.
After being put to bat, their new starting pairing had again been unconvincing. Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short each had the chance to defend their style in the lead-up to Adelaide, talking about the backing they have from coaches to be ultra-aggressive, but they were in the pavilion within seven overs.
Fraser-McGurk’s initial signs had been promising in the second over as he smashed three boundaries, including a particularly eye-catching back-foot cover drive, but Shaheen Shah Afridi pinned him lbw as he looked to play a full delivery. The short should have fallen on 8 when Shaheen dropped a comfortable catch at deep square leg rope, but it was not too costly for Pakistan. Shaheen had a touch of fortune in making amends when Short cut a delivery wide to cover where Babar took a strong catch.
Australia’s early pace continued to be brisk as Smith again showed good touch, including a six from Mohammad Hasnain, although he was lucky to escape in the 14th over when a cut shot against Rauf sailed through the hands of Saim Ayub at point.
Rauf, however, was not to be denied for long. His first wicket wasn’t a classic as Josh Inglis got a glove at a leg-side pull, but he was classy after that. Labuschagne received a perfect Test-like delivery, which straightened up, forced him to play and gave Rizwan the advantage.
Aaron Hardie fell in similar fashion although he was playing forward for a fuller delivery and the last of Australia’s frontline batsmen departed when Glenn Maxwell, after a reverse sweep for six off Ayub, fell back in an attempted pull. .
Between Rauf’s incisions, Hasnain claimed the key wicket of Smith, who he was confident had lost the ball before departing. Smith shuffled his feet around his crease and came very close to being lbw (the DRS showed it was an umpire’s call as he hit a decent chunk of leg stump), but next ball Smith got a cut to the top edge on a short and wide throw.
Naseem Shah claimed his first wicket when he found the outside edge of Starc and Rauf’s fifth came with a top edge from Cummins.
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor of Pak Gazette
