Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam picked a sharp catch during the second ODI against Australia at Adelaide Oval. After being asked to bat hosts Australia failed to get a good start as Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up Australia openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short during powerplay overs.
In the third over, Jake Fraser-McGurk tried to take on Shaheen but missed a straight delivery, getting trapped lbw for 13 runs off 10 balls. Australia lost their first wicket at 21, giving Pakistan an early breakthrough and gaining some crucial momentum.
Shaheen, looking to disrupt Short’s rhythm, bowled a short and wide delivery that wasn’t his best. Seizing the chance, Short went for an aggressive cut shot, attempting to carve it through the offside. However, he didn’t manage to get it past the infield, and the ball popped up off the edge, heading towards cover. Babar Azam, positioned nearby, reacted swiftly, diving to his right to take a sharp, low catch, demonstrating his quick reflexes and safe hands. The catch not only rewarded Shaheen’s persistence but also made up for a missed opportunity earlier. Short was dismissed for 19, leaving Australia at 41/2.
Soon after Babar Azam's catch, fans started praising the former Pakistan captain for his sharp fielding. The clip of Babar Azam's catch has gone viral on the social sphere. Here is the video.
Coming back to the match, Haris Rauf's five-wicket haul helped Pakistan bundle out Australia on just 163 runs. The speedster just conceded 29 runs in his 8 overs. Shaheen and Hasnain picked 3 and 1 wicket respectively. Naseem Shah also chipped in with 1 scalp but was on the expensive side, finishing with 1/65 in his quota of 10 overs.
Australia are currently leading in a three-match ODI series as they won the first match. This will be a do-or-die clash for the visitors.
