BLOG: 2nd ODI Australia vs Pakistan at the MCG

Pakistan wins by 6 wickets with 14 balls remaining to take the 5 match series to 1 all.

In any form of the game, Pakistan has not won in Australia since January 2005 and further has not beaten Australia at the MCG since 1985. In a magnificent victory for Pakistan Mohammed Hafeez (72), Sharjeel Khan (29) and Babar Azam (34) made the going look easy in stark contrast to Australia’s top order.  In addition to a fine innings, positive and attacking captaincy earned Hafeez the man of the match award.   

Wrapping up the match on Macquarie Radio, Mike Hussey commented that the visitors had shown fight and resilience but had not been able to maintain it.  This is surely a confidence building victory as we head to the WACA on Thursday for Game 3. Which is, incidentally the setting of their last Australian victory. 

Here are the highlights from a match that’s ‘good for cricket’.

 

Australia all out 220 (48.2 overs)

It’s going to be interesting to see what Pakistan makes of their innings.  As Australia struggled to a modest ODI total in modern terms, is the MCG pitch two paced?  Has Australia batted poorly? Has Pakistan bowled well? Certainly a vastly more energetic Pakistan team emerged in the field following changes to their line up due to injury.

In terms of Australia, Steve Smith (60) was the only Australian batsman to move beyond the half century with seven batsmen scoring between 16 and 35. The stage is set for an entertaining evening session.  Hear the highlights and analysis from Mike Hussey and John Emburey 

 

 

Australia wins the toss and elects to bat.  

Australia XI: Warner, Head, Smith (c), Khawaja, Maxwell, Marsh, Wade (wk), Faulkner, Cummins, Starc, Hazlewood

Pakistan XI: Hafeez, Sharjeel, Babar, Shafiq, Malik, Umar Akmal, Rizwan, Imad Wasim, Amir, Hasan, Junaid