ISLAMABAD: Haris Rauf has termed back-to-back victories against England and Australia big relief for the Pakistan fans who were concerned about recent team performances. Talking to the media just after spearheading Pakistan to an emphatic nine-wicket win at the Adelaide Oval to square the series 1-1 against Australia,
Haris said that beating England and Australia proved that the team can beat the best outfits around. “These wins came due to weeks of hard work and a collective team effort. We have achieved an emphatic win against Australia to break a seven-year winless streak. Every individual in the team played his role to see Pakistan winning here.”
Haris was not ready to accept any divine role in winning. “When we win you say that it was due to divine help. The fact of the matter is that we have worked hard to achieve this victory. It was all due to the team efforts and the support we have shown for each other.”
Haris who turned 31 on October 7, celebrated his birthday on Friday with a match-winning figures of 5-29, picking up eight wickets in two One-Dayers in the series so far. “I put my Big Bash experience into play here. I told my teammates to bowl on a proper line and length and make the batsmen play every ball. That strategy worked wonders. I have played many matches here and know how to get wickets.”
On Pakistan’s chances going into to final One-Dayer in Perth tomorrow (Sunday) and Australian management’s decision to rest some of the key players ahead of the important series against India, Haris said Pakistan would be looking to play their best cricket no matter who would be there.
“We have already defeated the best Australian side today. So it does not matter who will be there and who is going to miss the decider. We have to make sure that we are playing our best cricket like the way we did today.”
Saim Ayub, who smashed six sixes and five boundaries in his 71-ball 82, said playing according to the given plan was fun. “I enjoyed batting with Abdullah as we both put on 137 runs for the opening wicket to ensure a victory. We kept on analysing the situation after each over.”
The left-handed opener said they played attacking cricket while giving respect to quality bowling. “Wherever we thought we had a chance to go all out we did that. Though the target was not so big we made an effort to make the maximum use of our stay at the wicket in which we succeeded.” Saim rated the win as the one that was a result of team efforts. “It was a team effort where everyone tried to play his role.”
Australia
Matt Short c Babar b Shaheen 19
Jake Fraser-McGurk lbw Shaheen 13
Smith c Rizwan b Hasnain 35
Josh Inglis c Rizwan b Haris 18
Labuschagne c Rizwan b Haris 6
Aaron Hardie c Rizwan b Haris 14
Glenn Maxwell b Haris 16
Pat Cummins c Rizwan b Haris 13
Mitchell Starc c Rizwan b Naseem 1
Adam Zampa b Shaheen Shah 18
Josh Hazlewood not out 2
Extras: 0b 2lb 0nb 0pen 6w 8
Total: (35.0 overs) all out 163
Fall of wicket: 1-21, 2-41, 3-79, 4-87, 5-101, 6-121, 7-129, 8-130, 9-146, 10-163
Bowling: Shaheen 8-1- 26- 3 - 3.25 Naseem 10-0-65 - 1- 6.50 - 2w Hasnain
6-0-27- 1-4.50 Haris Rauf 8 -0-29-5-
3.62- 4w Saim Ayub 3 -0 -14 -0- 4.67
Pakistan
Saim Ayub c Hazlewood b Zampa 82
Abdullah Shafique not out 64
Babar Azam not out 15
Extras: 0b 1lb 1nb open 6w 8
Total: (26.3 overs) 169-1
Fall of wicket: 1-137
Did not bat: Rizwan, Ghulam, Agha, Khan, Afridi, Shah, Rauf, Hasnain
Bowling: Starc 4-1- 28- 0-7.00-2w Hazlewood 7-0-37-0-5.29-1nb Cummins 7-1-35-0-5.00 Zampa 6.3-1-44-1 - 6.77 Aaron Hardie 2- 0-24-0 12.00
Umpires: Christopher Gaffaney, Sam Nogajski
Match Referee: David Gilbert
