Naseem Shah’s late innings heroics helps Pakistan cross 200

MELBOURNE: Pakistan made 203 runs before losing their last wicket in the 47th over. Naseem Shah was the last man to fall after he scored a career best 40 runs, helping Pakistan to pass 200. Mitchell Starc was Australia’s best bowler, taking three wickets while Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins each took two. Sean Abbott and Marnus Labuschagne each took one wicket as well.

Some late innings heroics from Naseem Shah gave Pakistan some much-needed runs. The Pakistani fast bowler hit four sixes and one four on his way to making his highest ODI score ever at 40 runs off 39 deliveries. His previous highest score was 18 which he scored against Afghanistan. Naseem was caught out in the 47th over by Starc on a delivery from Cummins.

Adam Zampa took his second wicket and the ninth of the match in the 44th over after bowling Haris Rauf on the third ball he faced. Just one over prior, Irfan Khan was run out after the Pakistani batter fell following a sweep that sent the ball to Matthew Short. Short threw the ball to Maxwell who did the rest as Irfan tried to make his way back to the crease in time. Irfan made 22 runs off 35 deliveries before being sent off.

Shaheen Shah Afridi was the eight man to fall for Pakistan. He was dismissed on the 19th ball he faced after scoring 29 runs. It was Starc’s third wicket after dismissing Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub earlier.

Mohammad Rizwan fell in the 32nd over, giving Labuschagne his first wicket. The Pakistan skipper fell just short of a half century, scoring 44 runs off 71 deliveries before an attempted sweep by Rizwan resulted in the ball hitting the top edge of the bat before it made its way into Australian wicket-keeper Josh Inglis’ gloves.

Sean Abbott would pick up his first wicket of the match after sending off Pakistan Vice Captain Salman Agha. Agha would scoop up the ball to Matthew Short at midwicket. He made 12 runs off 29 deliveries before being sent off.

Kamran Ghulam was the fourth man to be sent off for Pakistan in his second ever ODI. He was dismissed on a delivery from Pat Cummins after only scoring five runs off six deliverers. Ghulam chased the high bounce, allowing the ball to nick his bat before it made its way into Inglis’ gloves.

Babar Azam was the third wicket to fall in the 18th over, as Adam Zampa’s delivery snuck under Azam’s bat to take out the off stump. He made 37 runs before being dismissed on the 44th delivery he faced, the highest score for Pakistan thus far.

Abdullah Shafique would fall in the 7th over on the 26th ball he faced after scoring 12 runs. Starc’s delivery nicked the end of the bat before Inglis took the catch.

Saim Ayub was the first dismissal of the match which came in the third over after a delivery from Starc ricocheted off the inside edge of the Pakistani openers bat, and into the stumps. Ayub was sent off on the fifth ball he faced and only managed to score one run.

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