Key events
Preamble
Martin Pegan
Hello and welcome to the second ODI between Australia and Pakistan at Adelaide Oval.
Australia have a 1-0 lead in the three-match series but the first 50-over clash at the MCG hardly went all their way as captain Pat Cummins was again called on to steer his side home with the bat.
Cummins arrived at the crease with Australia needing 49 runs to reach their modest 204-run target but with only three wickets in hand as Pakistan quick Haris Rauf ripped through the middle order with a fiery spell. Then, as we’ve almost come to expect from the ice-cool Cummins, Australia’s chasemaster played a typically composed knock for an unbeaten 32 from 31 balls to reach the mark for the loss of only one more wicket.
Pakistan can take hope from the pace of Rauf (3/67), Shaheen Shah Afridi (2/43) and Naseem Shah (1/39) shaking up Australia’s chase though they will likely want to pitch the ball up more in Adelaide than they did in Melbourne. Both sides will be looking for more from their top order this time and it remains to be seen whether Australia’s young openers Jake Fraser-McGurk (16) and Matt Short (1) are immediately on the front foot again, after coming under fire for their short-lived all-out attack in the first ODI.
First ball is at 14:00 ACDT / 14:30 AEDT. I’ll be back shortly with the line-ups and toss news, and then with you until the innings break when Angus Fontaine will take the reins.
Remember to get in touch with any comments, questions, thoughts and predictions. You can find me on X @martinpegan or shoot me an email. Let’s get into it!
