In the second ODI between Australia and Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval, Pakistani pacer Shaheen Afridi delivered a stunning ball to remove Australian opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, setting an aggressive tone for Pakistan early in the match.

Shaheen Afridi’s stunning delivery

Shaheen’s superb delivery in the third over of Australia’s innings left Fraser-McGurk walking back to the pavilion with a score of 13 off 10 balls. The ball, pitched on middle stump and nipping back in, beat Fraser-McGurk’s attempted drive, hitting him low on the back pad and prompting an immediate LBW decision. A quick look between Fraser-McGurk and his partner Matthew Short, confirmed there was no need for a review, with ball-tracking showing the delivery crashing into the middle stump.

Here is the video:

Early success for Pakistan! #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/V0xYUaokoV

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 8, 2024

Following the dismissal of Fraser-McGurk, Afridi struck again soon after, removing the other Australian opener, Matthew Short, who scored 19 off 15 balls. Shaheen’s back-to-back blows kept Australia on the back foot, setting up Pakistan’s bowlers to press on in the middle overs. Afridi’s precision and pace in the opening spell reaffirmed his ability to make breakthroughs for Pakistan and continued to challenge Australia’s top order.

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Must-win game for Pakistan

After winning the toss, Pakistan elected to bowl first, taking advantage of favourable early conditions to restrict Australia to 120 with the loss of 5 wickets at the end of 25 overs. Despite Australia’s quick scoring in the initial stages, Pakistan’s disciplined bowling lineup ensured regular breakthroughs to check the run flow. With both Shaheen and Haris Rauf claiming two wickets each, Australia found it challenging to stabilize. Rauf, Pakistan’s fast-bowling spearhead alongside Afridi, dismissed wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis and middle-order batter Marnus Labuschagne, adding pressure on Australia’s batting lineup. Mohammad Hasnain further contributed by removing Steve Smith, leaving Australia struggling to form a stable partnership.

With five wickets down, Australia’s middle-order batters Aaron Hardie and Glenn Maxwell took on the task of steadying the innings, hoping to reach a competitive total. Maxwell, known for his aggressive play, along with the more measured approach of Hardie, were tasked with building a partnership to keep Australia in contention. The duo’s resilience at the crease could be critical for Australia to post a defendable score.

This match holds a significant importance for Pakistan as Australia leads the three-match ODI series 1-0. After a loss in the first ODI, Pakistan must secure a victory in this game to keep the series alive and push for a deciding third match.

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