Former Pakistan cricket workforce quick bowler Shoaib Akhtar was all reward for the children as Pakistan registered a historic ODI collection victory over Australia. Pakistan received the ultimate ODI encounter by 8 wickets to clinch the three-match collection 2-1 to register their first ODI collection win on Australian soil in 22 years. Akhtar praised quick bowlers Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah for his or her spectacular performances and recalled his experiences of 2002 – the final time when Pakistan received in Australia.
“Outstanding win. After 22 years, we won against Australia. In 2002, I remember I was there. We had won a series in Gabba, and it took us 22 years for the players to win the series. And they did an amazing job. They played really well. There was an attitude change. Rizwan changed the attitude. Naseem, Haris, Shaheen. All of them played really well and at the same time they did a comprehensively good job,” Akhtar mentioned on his YouTube channel.
Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan praised bowlers for his or her 2-1 ODI collection win over Australia after beating Australia by eight wickets within the third and remaining match at Perth Stadium on Sunday.
This was Pakistan’s first ODI collection win over the hosts in 22 years. Chasing a modest 141 goal, Pakistan openers, Saim Ayub (42) and Abdullah Shafique (37) added 84-run partnership for the primary wicket. Rizwan (30 not out) and Babar Azam (28 not out) knitted an unbroken 58-run partnership for the third wicket to take the facet over the road in 26.5 overs.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Australia had been bowled out for 140 in 31.5 overs. Sean Abbott (30) was the highest run-getter for the dropping facet. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah bagged three scalps every whereas Haris Rauf ended up taking two wickets.
“Special moment for me, the nation will be very happy today, we didn’t perform as per expectations in the last couple of years. I’m the captain only for the toss and presentations – everyone gives me suggestions on the field, the batting group and the bowling group,” Rizwan mentioned within the post-match presentation.
“All the credit to the bowlers, Australia in Australia isn’t easy, the conditions suit their style of playing, but the bowlers were outstanding. Also credit to the two openers, they made the chases easy. They (fans) don’t care a lot about the results, but the people back home are always behind us and I want to dedicate this victory to them,” the wicketkeeper-batter added.
(With IANS inputs)
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