Babar and Imam shine as Pakistan register their first ODI series victory against Australia since 2002
Although beginning the limited-overs cricket series with a disappointing loss, Pakistan came back to win two consecutive ODIs to register their first ODI series win against the Men in Yellow since 2002. However, Pakistan conceded the only T20I game played between the two sides in the series that also happened to be the first such fixture in the Asian country.
Here, we rate how every Pakistani performed in the limited-overs series against Australia that includes three-match ODI games as well as a one-off T20I.
Batters
Fakhar Zaman – 5/10
Fakhar Zaman had a below-average series against the Australians in the limited-overs leg of the tour. The left-handed batter started with a mere 18 runs in the first ODI but scored an important innings of 67 including stitching up a 100+ run partnership between him and Imam-ul-Haq that paved the way for Pakistan’s highest successful run-chase in ODIs. The 31-year old scored 17 in the final ODI while was dismissed for a golden duck in the T20I.
Imam-ul-Haq – 9/10
It was a series that Imam won’t forget throughout his career. After starring with the bat in Tests, the 26-year-old continued the good form in ODIs scoring 103 runs in the first ODI and following that up by scoring 106 runs in the second ODI.
In the process, the southpaw became the batter to have scored nine tons in 48 innings, thus becoming the quickest to reach the milestone. The Peshawar Zalmi player followed that up with an unbeaten 89 runs in the final ODI thus finishing the series at an average of 149.
Babar Azam – 9/10
Babar Azam scored at least a fifty in each of the limited-overs games against Australia
Mr. Dependable of Pakistan cricket, Babar Azam once again lived up to his bill scoring 57 in the first game and following that up by scoring 114 runs in the second ODI. The skipper also scored an unbeaten 105 in the third ODI before registering 66 in the lone T20Is.
Mohammad Rizwan – 4/10
It was a disappointing series for Mohammad Rizwan who scored 10 and 23 in the two innings he was asked to bat in ODIs. In the lone T20I game, the wicketkeeper batter scored 23 runs off 19 deliveries and once again failed to live up to his potential.
Asif Ali – 1/10
Given a chance to prove in the T20I game, Asif scored just three runs at a time when Pakistan was looking to score some quick runs in the slog overs of the game.
All Rounders
Iftikhar Ahmed – 2/10
A quiet series for Iftikhar who did not have to do much in the entire series. The 31-year-old was dismissed for 2 runs in the first ODI and scored an unbeaten eight in Pakistan’s epic chase in the second ODI. Not needed to bat in the third, he scored 13 in the lone T20I. The Quetta Gladiators player also managed to bag two wickets in the ODIs but wasn’t handed the ball in T20Is.
Khushdil Shah – 5/10
Khushdil batted brilliantly in the second ODI to score 27 off 17 deliveries to power Pakistan to their highest successful chase in the format. Although not being asked to bat in the final ODI, he did score 19 in the first. Meanwhile, the left-arm orthodox bowler also scalped two wickets in the 50-overs format while scoring 24 in the lone T20Is.
Bowlers
Shaheen scalped eight wickets in the limited-overs leg of the Australia series
Shaheen Shah Afridi – 8/10
Shaheen had a fantastic series against Australia scalping six wickets in the 50-overs format and two in the 20-overs format. In fact, such was his brilliance that he registered figures of 4-63 in the second ODI wherein the rest of the bowlers including Australia’s were hammered.
Haris Rauf – 6/10
Haris Rauf had an average series scalping five wickets in the 50-overs format of the game despite going wicketless in the second game. In fact, it was the 28-year-old’s extra pace that troubled the Aussies in the third ODI who were bundled out for 210 out of which three wickets were picked by Rauf.
Mohammad Wasim Jr – 7/10
Mohammad Wasim had a good outing against the Aussies scalping five wickets in the 50-overs leg of the series and backing that up with two more wickets in the T20I series.
Zahid Mahmood – 4/10
Zahid had a sub-par series scalping four wickets although much was expected of him given Adam Zampa’s success on the same wicket.
Hasan Ali – 1/10
Hasan Ali went wicketless in the first ODI of the series and was then dropped for the remaining two games in favour of the returning Shaheen. The 27-year-old again went wicketless in the one-off T20I match and would be hoping to forget this series as soon as possible.
Usman Qadir – 7/10
Asked to play in the lone T20I game, Usman Qadir scored a quick-fire 18 runs off 6 deliveries to help Pakistan post a total beyond the 160-run mark. The son of legendary Abdul Qadir also went on to scalp two crucial wickets in Australia’s successful chase of Pakistan’s target.