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Pakistan vs Australia, 4th ODI at Sydney, Live Cricket Score: Australia seal series win

It is going to be an important contest, for a win here will seal the series in Australia’s favour. Pakistan, hence, will have to play out of their skin to win the fourth ODI and keep the series alive.

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Hello, good morning and a very warm welcome to you at CricketCountry’s live cricket blog and updates of the fourth One-Day International (ODI) at Sydney’s SCG between Australia and Pakistan. This is Devarchit Varma, and I shall be with you for the entire match to present you with all the updates. At present, Australia lead the ongoing five-ODI series 2-1. They won the first match at Brisbane with a convincing margin of 92 runs. However, Pakistan made a comeback at the MCG in Melbourne, winning the second ODI by 6 wickets. Hosts then reclaimed the lead in the third ODI at WACA, Perth, by winning the contest by 7 wickets. Skipper Steven Smith and Peter Handscomb were the chief architects of that win.

This brings the series to the fourth ODI at Sydney. It is going to be an important contest, for a win here will seal the series in Australia’s favour. Pakistan, hence, will have to play out of their skin to win the fourth ODI and keep the series alive. If they are able to do so, the outcome of the series shall finally be decided at Adelaide in the fifth ODI, which will be played on January 26. They will be buoyed by the fact that their regular skipper Azhar Ali has been declared fit and in all likelihood will return to lead his side.

FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs Australia, 4th ODI at Sydney

Pakistan, who have played inconsistent cricket so far, need Azhar at the moment. They had Australia under the pump in the first ODI, but their bowlers let the Australian lower-order off the hook to post 268 from 78 for 5. It was their batting then that let them down. In the second ODI, a collective effort got them over the line. But again, in the third ODI, their bowlers failed to keep the Australian top-order, which fired for the first time in the series, under check.

History, too, does not help them much at this venue, as Pakistan have lost 10 of the 14 games played at Sydney. They will hope for a better show, collectively as a unit, to beat Australia.

The hosts, on the other hand, have their own issues to sort. David Warner has been off colour so far, and the team will need him to step up and gain some confidence ahead of a crucial tour to India. Others like Usman Khawaja, too, need to get among the runs. They have got Mitchell Starc back in the squad for the SCG clash, and the left-armer will add more muscle to the Australian pace attack. On the other hand, leg-spinner Adam Zampa also makes a case for inclusion in the playing XI for the first time in the series. Pakistan are likely to make just a single change to accommodate skipper Azhar in the XI.

While Pakistan will take the field under their regular skipper with a renewed spirit, Australia will also take a lot of heart from the fact that they have beaten Pakistan at the SCG on last five occasions.

Squads:

Australia: Steven Smith (c), David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wk), James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Billy Stanlake

Pakistan: Azhar Ali (c), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asad Shafiq, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Hasan Ali, Rahat Ali, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Hafeez

FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs Australia, 4th ODI at Sydney

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