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Apoorv Dwivedi
Separated by 1400 kilometers, Mumbai and Lahore witnessed two mammoth run chases in nail-biting thrillers. Pakistan completed its highest-ever run chase in the 50 over format to level the 3 match series 1-1 against Australia.
Pakistan chased down 348 in 49 overs. Babar Azam was adjudged Player of the match.
Local boy, the savior
Skipper Babar Azam showed why he is ranked so high by cricket experts. Playing in his hometown Lahore, he slammed an 83 ball 114. Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq gave an ideal start to Pakistan, scoring 118 runs together in 19 overs.
Sublime form of Imam-ul-Haq
Imam was later joined by Babar and they added 111 runs together. Imam-ul-Haq got out on 106. He scored at a healthy strike rate of 109 and hit 3 sixes. He has been in a superb touch since the test series and piling on runs.
Pakistan received a blow in the 45th over when Nathan Ellis got rid of Babar Azam. Khushdil Shah played a match-winning cameo of 27 runs in 17 balls to take his side over the line.
Superb show by Australia with the bat
In the first innings, it was Australia toying with the bowlers. Australia suffered an early blow when captain Aaron Finch got out on his first ball. Travis Head playing for David Warner scored a 70 ball 89, he smashed 5 sixes during the course of his innings.
Ben McDermott playing in his 4th ODI held one end and scored a run-a-ball 104, his maiden ODI century. Some quickfire batting by Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, and Sean Abbott ensured that Australia finished at 348/8
A batting paradise
The pitch of Gaddafi stadium was a batting paradise as nearly 750 runs were scored in 99 overs. None of the bowlers gave less than 5 runs per over. Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was the best bowler in the match with his 4 for 63.
The whole tour of Australia and Pakistan has made headlines because of the pitches. All the matches till now have been high-scoring contests be it Test Matches or ODIs.
Series decider on April 2nd
The ODI series is leveled one all. The last match of the series will be played in the Gaddafi stadium tomorrow. The match is expected to be an edge-of-the-seat thriller. Australia and Pakistan have all to play for. If Pakistan keeps the form from the last match, they might secure a rare series victory over the mighty kangaroos.