This series turned out exactly as how one would have expected. After winning the one day series against India in India, Australia were expected to thrash Pakistan in Pakistan’s adopted home (Dubai, Abu dhabi and sharjah) and the same has happened. After sealing the 5 match one day series inside 3 games, Cummins was rested again and Australia gave Kane richardson a go in the 4th one day. and he has done no good for his place in the world cup as he did not had a eye catching game which was needed to overcome the likes of Nathan coulter Nile, his counter part who had a very good game.
Maxwell made a well constructed 82 ball 98 before he was run out in the 49th over of Australian innings after Australia were put into bat by Imad wasim who was captaining the Pakistan side in the absence of Malik. Australia were struggling at one stage as they were 140 for the loss of 5 wickets but the match defining partnership between Carey and maxwell made Australia to cross over 250 mark and in the end they set Pakistan a target of 278 in their 50 overs.Alex carey played a timely knock of 67 ball 55 as he saw Australia through the entire 50 overs.
Pakistan had two debutants in their batting line up and one of them was Abid ali who replaced Imam ul haq and the other was Saad ali who was playing the place of Malik. Abid ali and Shan masood opened the innings for Pakistan. NCN bowled masood in the very first over and Haris sohail followed masood soon after. The victory for Australia looked evident, but Abid ali and rizwan had other ideas. Both Abid ali and Rizwan watched the ball like a hawk and played some eye catching shots as Abid ali reached to his first hundred on debut and Rizwan was supporting him at the other end. They both stritched a partnership of 140 runs before the partnership was broken by Zampa, as Abid Ali was caught by finch. By then, Pakistan required a mere 59 runs from 48 odd deliveries with 7 wickets in hand and who would have though Pakistan would choke in the end to give the game to Australia.
After the dismissal of Abid ali, the onus was on Rizwan to stay till the end and finish the game for Pakistan, he stayed till the end and even got to his hundred but he could not close out the game as Australia won the game by 6 runs.Pakistan needed 17 runs from the final over as stoinis was given the responsibility to close out the game, Yasir shah took a single of the first ball, rizwan then had 5 more deliveries to get to 16 runs and he got out the next ball and there ended the game.. Pakistan lost game even after two of their top 4 batsmen got to 100. This shows that they lack a quality finisher.
The fifth one day between them is at the same venue on 31st march.
Bala'Blog 