In a thrilling second ODI at the Adelaide Oval, Pakistan’s pace attack, led by Haris Rauf’s phenomenal 5/29, tore through the Australian batting lineup to dismiss them for a mere 163. After winning the toss, Pakistan opted to bowl first—a decision that proved fruitful from the very beginning. Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early, dismissing both Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk, placing Australia on the back foot right away.

The struggles for the Australian batsmen didn’t end there, as Pakistan’s bowling attack continued to put immense pressure. Rauf, who was in sensational form, swiftly picked up his second five-wicket haul in ODIs. He accounted for key players like Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, and Pat Cummins. His relentless pace and precision kept the Australian middle order from settling in, and Pakistan’s bowlers maintained their dominance throughout the innings.

Rizwan and Zampa’s lively DRS exchange

The game also saw a light-hearted moment between Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan and Australian bowler Adam Zampa. Rizwan, who was exceptional behind the stumps with six catches, shared a comical exchange with Zampa. At one point, Rizwan asked, “Did you hear something?” to which Zampa responded, “You are appealing for everything?” Rizwan then inquired, “Should I take the review?” Zampa cheekily replied, “Yes, you should.” Rizwan proceeded with the review, only for the DRS to confirm a "not-out" decision, adding a memorable moment to an otherwise tense match.

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As the wickets kept tumbling, Zampa himself tried to keep Australia’s scoreboard ticking with some resistance. After being dropped by Rizwan, he went on to hit a six and a four off Naseem Shah, pushing his score to 17. But the efforts weren’t enough to save Australia from their collapse, with Pakistan’s disciplined bowling performance and Rizwan’s sharp fielding ensuring the hosts were all out for 163.

Rizwan: Did you hear something?

Zampa: You are appealing for everything?

Rizwan: Should I take the review?

Zampa: Yes, you should

- Rizwan takes the review and DRS says Not-out.

RIZWAN 🤝 ZAMPA 😄🔥 pic.twitter.com/79RE2MaIPN

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 8, 2024

Pakistan’s commanding position in the series

This bowling performance places Pakistan in a commanding position in the three-match series, especially with such a low target to chase. Rauf’s exceptional five-wicket haul, Afridi’s early breakthroughs, and Rizwan’s brilliant performance behind the stumps not only boosted Pakistan’s morale but also exposed Australia’s batting vulnerabilities against high-quality pace bowling. With Pakistan looking to seal the series, Australia now faces the uphill task of rethinking their approach in the final ODI.