Published: Jan 15, 2017, 07:53 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 15, 2017, 08:00 PM (IST)
Pakistan surprised Australia with a 6-wicket win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the second ODI, thus winning a 50-over contest at this venue after more than 21 years. With this win, Pakistan were also able to end their miserable run in Australia, ending their 16-match losing streak to the hosts that began in 2005. Mohammad Hafeez impressed as a captain, leading from the front as he scored 72 in their modest chase of 221 to win. On their part, Australia played poor cricket overall and succumbed to their first defeat since that horrible match they had against South Africa at Hobart, in November 2016. Let us take a look at the highlights:
Junaid Khan’s impressive comeback: Playing in his first ODI since May 2015, Junaid showed Pakistan what they had been lacking all this while. Junaid, along with Mohammad Aamer, produced an impressive opening spell that troubled Australian batsmen to the greatest limits. Junaid made life tough for David Warner, who seems to have lost his form all of a sudden. Following a few close appeals, especially against Warner, Junaid produced two identical deliveries to get rid of Warner (16) and Usman Khawaja (17) in quick succession. He would have had the third wicket in the game if umpire had not failed to hear the sound of an edge off James Faulkner late in the innings.
FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI at Melbourne
Domination of Pakistani spinners: The trend of Pakistani spinners stifling the Australians with tight line and length, mixing them with slow, flighted deliveries, continued for the second game on the trot. The only difference here was that Australia failed to reply them back. Imad Wasim accounted for Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell (23), conceding 37; Hafeez bowled 10 overs, giving away only 45 runs on a batting wicket at MCG; and towards the end, Shoaib Malik bowled 4 measly overs off which he claimed 1 for 15.
Steven Smith’s laborious innings: Australia found batting inexplicably tough at MCG. Smith tried anchoring the innings after Australia suffered early blows. He looked to bat through the innings since he kept running out of partners. In the process, he faced as many as 101 balls and struck only 2 boundaries to score 60, which proved how tight Pakistan were in their effort with the ball.
The costly drop: Smith may blame himself for this defeat. Against a fallible side, Australia would have hoped some nerves from the opposition batsmen at the beginning of their chase. In the first over itself, there was a reprieve which was provided by Smith. Fielding at the second slip, Smith spilled a regulation catch of Hafeez off Mitchell Starc. Hafeez had not even opened his account at that stage. The complexion of the game would have been completely different had Smith not spilled that chance.
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Hafeez went on to score a match-winning 72. The edge sent him into a shell. At one stage he was struggling at 9 off 33 balls, but he made most of the lifeline and hammered a few glorious strokes around the park to seal a memorable win for his side.
Australia’s overall poor show: Australia played with danger by batting poorly at Brisbane, but Matthew Wade’s century and Pakistan’s poor approach had ensured them of a win. However, on Sunday, Australian batsmen had an off day and so did their bowlers. Josh Hazlewood was measly, but could not provide crucial breakthroughs. Starc went for runs and Australia could never really apply pressure on Pakistan by cutting down the runs.
