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The second One Day International (ODI) between Pakistan and Australia in Adelaide witnessed a dominant display of fast bowling from Haris Rauf, who ripped through the Australian batting order, claiming five wickets and giving Pakistan a much-needed boost in their pursuit of a series-leveling victory.
Rauf's devastating spell of 5 for 29 completely derailed Australia's innings, leaving them reeling at 163 all out in just 35 overs. He proved to be a nightmare for the Australian batsmen, exploiting the bouncy, grass-covered pitch to perfection and generating disconcerting pace and movement. His performance was even more impressive considering the early wickets taken by Shaheen Shah Afridi, who dismissed the Australian openers Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk cheaply.
Rauf started his wicket-taking spree by dismissing Josh Inglis, and then continued his relentless assault by sending back the experienced Marnus Labuschagne and Aaron Hardie. He further dented the Australian innings by cleaning up Glenn Maxwell, who was looking to rebuild the innings. Australia's captain Pat Cummins was also dismissed by Rauf, caught behind, marking the completion of the pacer's second five-wicket haul in ODIs. This performance was a clear indication of Rauf's growing stature as a top-class fast bowler, capable of delivering match-winning performances on the biggest stage.
The Australian batting lineup, despite the presence of seasoned campaigners like Steve Smith, who top-scored with 35 runs, failed to handle the relentless pressure created by Rauf and Afridi. Their inability to adapt to the conditions and the relentless pace of the Pakistani bowlers ultimately led to their downfall. The match, which was effectively decided by Rauf's heroics, gave Pakistan a much-needed boost in their pursuit of a series win. It also served as a reminder of Rauf's ability to deliver game-changing performances on the big stage, further enhancing his reputation as a formidable fast bowler.
Source: Haris Rauf runs amok! Pakistan pacer rips Australia apart with five wickets