Summary The fifth and final ODI between Pakistan and Australia will be played Adelaide today (Thursday).
ADELAIDE (Dunya News/Agencies) - Pakistan and Australia will lock horns in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI) at the Adelaide Oval today (Thursday), which is also Australia’s national day, Dunya News reported. The match will start at 8:20am (PST).
Pakistan will want a better all-round performance from the players. Dropped catches have hurt the team and that will be something it will look to address. In the last match in Sydney, Sharjeel Khan smashed 74 off 47 deliveries to be the pick of the batsmen. Pakistan will want more of that kind of aggression and hope the top and middle-order click in tandem.
Pakistan lost the Test series 3-0, and have conceded the ODI series as well, despite the win in the second match. It will be keen for a consolation win to end the tour on a better note.
On the other hand, Australia will be looking to finish its ODI series against Pakistan with yet another win. Having taken an unassailable 3-1 lead after a massive 86-run victory in Sydney on Sunday, Australia will be keen not to let complacency trickle into the ranks.
It might be a dead-rubber contest, but as Glenn Maxwell pointed out on the eve of the encounter, it will be a crucial platform for those looking to make a mark ahead of the side s upcoming three-match ODI series in New Zealand and a four-Test tour of India next month.
It being a public holiday, a large crowd is expected to turn up at the Adelaide Oval, which has been reinstated as the venue for the once-traditional Australia Day ODI for the first time in three years.
Squads:
Pakistan (From): Azhar Ali (capt), Sharjeel Khan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Imad Wasim/Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali, Junaid Khan/Wahab Riaz/Rahat Ali.
Australia: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
