PAK vs AUS 2nd ODI: Record chase as Pakistan square the series 1-1 with a game to go
A confident win for the home team and an exhilarated feel for the Lahore fans watching in Gaddafi Stadium. Pakistan 349/4 defeated Australia 348/8 in their highest successful chase in second one day international.
Pakistani player Imam ul Haq brilliant form in one day seriesBabar Azam's decision to bowl again for this day proved that it was calculated all along by the captain which somehow lacked execution in the first ODI, but the second ODI was just perfection. The series is now going to a decider match on 1st April 2022.
A massive defendable score for the Aussies
Australia batted like they wanted to win the series in this match itself. A total team effort from Ben McDermott's (104) maiden test hundred, Travis Head (89) who missed out on his second successive century, Marnus Labuschagne (59), and Marcus Stoinis (49) took Australia to a total of 348 for 8 wickets. The total itself was something that Pakistan had never been able to chase down in ODIs and Australia was already confident. However, Pakistan had other plans.
Disciplined and calculated batting from Pakistan
Pakistan replied to the mammoth total by not allowing Aussies to take any wicket. The first wicket itself for Pakistan fell just a ball before the 19th over after a 118-run partnership between Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq. This wicket didn’t change anything for the Aussies as Pakistan went on for another 119-run partnership between Imam-ul-Haq and Babar Azam by the time the Australian bowler managed to take the host’s second wicket at a score of 229. Khushdil Shah’s unbeaten 27 off 17 balls and Iftikhar Ahmed (8 not out) raised Pakistan's memorable victory with six balls to spare.
A phenomenal record chase from Pakistan
Pakistan broke the record of their highest successful chase in ODIs to win the game. It was that phenomenal. 118, 119, 80 - the respective partnership runs for the first three wickets and that tells you everything you need to know. Of course, led by the brilliant tons of Babar and Imam, Pakistan learned from their mistakes and aced the chase to perfection.
Pakistan will not go all swords for one last battle of this tour against the visitor Australia in a series decider. A perfect end to this Australia tour to Pakistan awaits all the fans on 2nd April 2022 at Lahore.