Rauf, Ayub star as Pakistan registers first ODI win in Australia in seven years

Saim Ayub slammed a swashbuckling 82 and Abdullah Shafique an unbeaten 64 as Pakistan demolished Australia by nine wickets to level their one-day series on Friday at the Adelaide Oval.

Replying to the hosts’ modest 163 all out, thanks to pace spearhead Haris Rauf’s 5-29, Pakistan reached 169-1 with 141 balls to spare.

It set up a series decider on Sunday at Perth Stadium after Australia won a tense first match in Melbourne by two wickets.

Pakistan's Saim Ayub scored his maiden ODI fifty in the second ODI against Australia in Adelaide.PCB

Openers Ayub and Shafique started the chase slowly, pinned down by Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, with just 47 coming from the first 10 overs.

Former cricketer Sadiq Mohammad praised the Pakistan openers for laying a solid foundation at the start.

"It was encouraging to see the openers, Abdullah and Saim, settle down and focus on the basic of batting, which provided a solid start to the innings," Sadiq said.

"Both openers showed great concentration, watching the ball right onto the bat. If they continue to apply these basics, they could provide a similar strong start in the final match," he added.

But they began swinging the bat after that with Ayub smacking a big six from Cummins then crunching another off Mitchell Starc.

The 22-year-old was dropped by Adam Zampa on 47 and capitalised by bringing up his maiden ODI half-century in only his second match, with Shafique joining the fun with some giant sixes of his own.

Adam Zampa was flat on his back as he unsuccessfully scrambled to hold on to a catch.AFP

Ayub finally succumbed to the spin of Zampa going for another big hit, caught by Hazlewood, ending a 71-ball stay that included five fours and six sixes.

Babar Azam (15 not out) joined Shafique to see Pakistan home, ending the match with the 10th six of their innings.

“The most important thing is the team won,” said Ayub.

“We planned to be positive and not to think about the result but the most important thing is how we play as a team.

“Credit goes to Haris Rauf, but the other bowlers also supported him well.”

Australia’s bad day

Rauf’s pace caused big problems after Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and sent Australia in, with Steve Smith’s 35 the top score as they were dismissed in the 35th over.

“It wasn’t one of our best days,” said Australia skipper Cummins.

“You hope you get more than 160. They bowled well but we wanted to get a bigger score.

“We got some catchers in, tried to attack, but it wasn’t to be,” he added of their bowling.

In the absence of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head, who are on paternity leave, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short again opened, keen to make their mark after falling cheaply in the opening match.

The aggressive Fraser-McGurk slammed three boundaries from Naseem Shah’s first over, but was then out lbw for 13 to Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Short had a huge left-off on eight, with Afridi dropping a sitter by the ropes.

But the veteran paceman made amends, tempting Short into a cover drive shortly after on 19 that Azam did well to hold.

Josh Inglis hit a breezy 18 before he gloved to Rizwan off Rauf, with the same pair accounting for Marnus Labuschagne (6) to leave Australia on 87-4.

At the other end, Smith ground to 35 before finally falling to an edge from Mohammad Hasnain, and when Rauf and Rizwan again combined to remove Aaron Hardie the hosts were 121-6.

Rauf struck again to bowl dangerman Glenn Maxwell for 16 and collected only his second ODI five-wicket haul by once more teaming up with Rizwan to remove Cummins (13).

Rizwan, in his first series as Pakistan's white-ball captain, was involved in six dismissals, equaling the world record for most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in a one day international. He could have had a seventh catch but spilled a skier from Adam Zampa late in the Australian innings.

"Rizwan made great decisions. The bowling changes were spot on, especially bringing Saim Ayub on as a spinner,” Sadiq said.

“Rizwan’s leadership has been exceptional, making each player feel valued, respected, and confident on the field,” he added.

The world champions were eventually bundled out for 163 in 35 overs on a decent batting track, their lowest ODI score against Pakistan.