Adelaide ODI: Pakistan's Thrilling Win Over Australia in a Last-Over Thriller
The Adelaide Oval witnessed a nail-biting encounter between Pakistan and Australia in the first ODI of the three-match series. Pakistan, chasing a challenging target of 265, managed to pull off a thrilling victory in the final over, securing a 1-0 lead in the series.
A Strong Start for Australia
Australia, batting first, got off to a flying start thanks to a blistering century from Travis Head (101 off 84). He was well supported by Marnus Labuschagne (69) and Steve Smith (48), who helped Australia post a formidable score of 264/7. The Australian bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc (2/44) and Josh Hazlewood (2/65), looked to restrict Pakistan early on.
Pakistan's Dramatic Comeback
Pakistan’s chase began with an early setback, losing Imam-ul-Haq in the second over. However, Fakhar Zaman (109 off 109) and Babar Azam (67 off 75) steadied the ship with a crucial 136-run partnership. The duo kept Pakistan in the hunt, but a late collapse threatened to derail their chase.
With Pakistan needing 26 runs off the final two overs, the pressure was immense. Shadab Khan (45 off 28) stepped up to the plate, hitting a crucial six and a boundary in the penultimate over. In the last over, Pakistan needed 11 runs to win. Iftikhar Ahmed (20 off 14) remained calm under pressure, hitting a crucial boundary and a six off the last ball to secure a thrilling victory for Pakistan.
Key Moments of the Match
- Travis Head's Century: Head's blistering knock was instrumental in setting a challenging target for Pakistan.
- Fakhar Zaman's Knock: Zaman's century anchored Pakistan's chase, keeping them in the game throughout.
- Shadab Khan's Heroic Finish: Khan's crucial contributions in the final overs proved to be the difference between victory and defeat for Pakistan.
- Iftikhar Ahmed's Last-Over Heroics: Ahmed held his nerve under immense pressure, hitting the winning runs in a nail-biting finish.
Looking Ahead
The victory in Adelaide has given Pakistan a significant boost ahead of the remaining two ODIs. They will be looking to capitalize on this momentum and secure a series win. Australia, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back and level the series. The next ODI, scheduled to take place on [Date], promises to be another exciting encounter between these two cricketing powerhouses.