- Pakistan demolished Australian order to claim second ODI
- Sets up decider with a host of Aussie players to stand down for Test duty
- Zampa helped save Australia from record demolition
Adam Zampa helped spare Australia from a record demolition job in the second ODI against Pakistan on Friday and also helped rob their opponents of a vital review late in the Aussie innings.
World Cup champions Australia were embarrassed by Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval, suffering one of the heaviest defeats in their proud ODI history.
After posting only 163, Australia were then punished in the field by Pakistan openers Saim Ayub (82) and Abdullah Shafique (64 not out) as the tourists raced to a nine-wicket victory in the second ODI with 141 balls to spare.
It is the first time since 1992 Australia have lost a home ODI by nine wickets.
They avoided becoming the first Australian team to lose a white-ball match at home by 10 wickets when Zampa ended the 137-run opening stand.
‘Wasn’t one of our best days,’ Australia captain Pat Cummins said.
‘We’ve been pretty good of late, but today was right up there with one of our worst, unfortunately.’
However one cheeky moment from Zampa late in the Aussie dig made the highlight reels, with the spinner convincing Pakistan wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan to use the review.
Aussie spinner Adam Zampa toiled hard with the bat for Australia after a massive middle order collapse
Zampa went for this big heave late in the Aussie innings with the ball sailing over his head
The Aussie bowler cheekily managed to convince Pakistan to review the decision of not out
Zampa went for a big heave with the Aussies in big trouble at 9-153, with the Pakistan ‘keeper appealing for caught behind.
With the umpire unmoved, Rizwan then decided to try his luck with the Aussie batsman.
Rizwan: ‘Did you hear something? ‘
Zampa: ‘You are appealing for everything.’
Rizwan: ‘Should I take it [the review]?’
Zampa: ‘Yeah, you should, you should take it.’
Pakistan did indeed review the decision, much to the amusement of the commentary team, only for the result to come back not out.
Pakistan’s stunning triumph on Friday gives them a huge opportunity to win the three-match series, with Test stars Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to sit out Sunday’s deciding game in Perth.
Those five won’t make the trip west so they can prepare for the upcoming battle for the Border-Gavaskar trophy against India.
Wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, who will captain Australia for the first time in Cummins’ absence, Glenn Maxwell, and Zampa will be the only members of last year’s World Cup final side to play at Optus Stadium.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk