Pak vs Aus
The cricket match between Pak vs Aus was a much-anticipated one, with both teams playing very well in the lead up to the game. Australia had been undefeated in their last ten matches, while Pakistan had only lost one game in their past five. The game did not disappoint, with Australia winning by a narrow margin of just three wickets. Here is a brief recap of the match for those who may have missed it.
The match was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with a crowd of over 90,000 people in attendance. Australia won the toss and elected to bat first. They got off to a great start, with openers David Warner and Aaron Finch both scoring half-centuries. The Pakistani bowlers fought back well, however, and managed to restrict Australia to just 9/286 from their 50 overs.
In reply, Pakistan got off to a shaky start and were 3/40 early on. However, they rallied and were able to get themselves back into the game. When rain brought an early end to proceedings, they were still in with a chance of winning, but ultimately fell just short, finishing on 9/276.
Pakistan
Pakistan is a country located in southern Asia. The region now straddling the border of present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan is one of the most torn regions of the world. It has seen the arrival and departure of a number of civilizations, through invasions and migrations: Alexander’s period, the January Uprising of 1857 by
The first recorded history of the region now known as Pakistan dates back to around 10,000 BC when an ancient people settled in the Indus Valley. These people, who came to be known as the Indus Valley Civilization, built cities like Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. This civilization reached its peak around 2600 BC but went into decline soon after and was eventually replaced by the Vedic Civilization.
The Vedic Civilization was centered in present-day India but had some influence on present-day Pakistan as well. This civilization declined around 500 BC and was eventually replaced by the Persian Achaemenid Empire. The Persians ruled over parts of present-day Pakistan until 327 BC when they were defeated by Alexander the Great. After Alexander’s death, his empire was divided amongst his generals and at times, present-day Pakistan was ruled by various empires like the Seleucid Empire, Bactrian Kingdom, Indo-Greek Kingdom, Kushan Empire, Gupta Empire, White Huns, Sassanid Empire and Kidarites.
Islam arrived in present-day Pakistan in 7
Australia
The Australia national cricket team has been one of the most successful teams in international cricket. They have won the Cricket World Cup five times, more than any other team. They have also won the ICC Champions Trophy three times.
Australia has a long history of playing against Pakistan. The two teams first played each other in 1954. Since then, they have played each other 105 times. Australia has won 73 of those matches, while Pakistan has won 30. Two matches have ended in a tie and one has been abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Pakistan is currently ranked ninth in the world, while Australia is ranked first.
In their most recent series, which took place in 2017, Australia won all five matches. This included a victory in the final match by an innings and 46 runs – the second-largest margin of victory by either team in this fixture.
The Test Match Series
The Test match series between Pak vs Aus was a highly anticipated event, with both teams possessing strong squads. The first Test match was played at the Gabba in Brisbane, and resulted in a close contest, with Australia eventually winning by just over 50 runs.
The second Test match was played at the Adelaide Oval, and again resulted in a very close contest. This time, it was Pakistan who narrowly won by 3 wickets.
The third and final Test match was played at the WACA ground in Perth, and once again it was a very close affair. Australia managed to win by just 7 runs, thus winning the series 2-1.
All in all, it was a very closely fought series which produced some excellent cricket from both sides.
The One Day Internationals
Since the World Cup in 1992, Pak vs Aus have contested 108 One Day Internationals (ODIs). In this time, Australia have won 73 times and Pakistan have won 32 times. The teams have also twice tied and once had no result.
Australia have been dominant in the overall series, but there have been some close matches along the way. In 1998, Pakistan shocked Australia in the final of a tri-series also involving New Zealand. Chasing 243 to win, Pakistan reached their target with just two balls to spare.
In recent years, the two teams have met regularly in bilateral series. In 2017, they played five ODIs, with Australia winning 4-1. This year, they are playing a further three matches as part of the 2019 Cricket World Cup. So far, Australia have won both games convincingly.
The most recent match between the two sides was on June 12th 2019 at The Oval in London. Chasing a target of 359, Pakistan were all out for 302 off 48 overs. David Warner top scored for Australia with 107 runs off 109 balls, while Imam-ul-Haq was the only Pakistani batsman to reach three figures, making 100 not out off 122 balls.
The Twenty20 Internationals
Pakistan and Australia have had some great contests over the years, with the most recent series being no exception. Here is a brief recap of the Twenty20 Internationals between these two teams.
The first match was a close one, with Pakistan just edging out Australia by two runs. Mohammad Hafeez top-scored for Pakistan with 73, while David Warner hit 67 for Australia. The second match was also a close affair, with Pakistan winning by three wickets. Umar Akmal top-scored for Pakistan with 46, while Glenn Maxwell hit an unbeaten 45 for Australia.
In the final match, Australia regained some momentum by winning comfortably by seven wickets. Aaron Finch top-scored for Australia with 64, while Wahab Riaz picked up three wickets for Pakistan. As a result of this series, Pakistan remain the number one ranked team in the world, while Australia move up to second place.
What the Future Holds for These Two Teams
It is safe to say that both Pak vs Aus have had their share of ups and downs in recent years. However, there is no denying that these two teams are still two of the best cricketing nations in the world.
Looking ahead, it seems as though both teams will continue to be competitive on the international stage. In terms of head-to-head matchups, it is difficult to split these two sides. They have played each other 107 times in ODI cricket, with Australia winning 54 times and Pakistan winning 45 times.
Looking at the respective squads, it is clear that both teams have a wealth of talent at their disposal. In the batting department, Australia have the likes of David Warner, Steve Smith and Aaron Finch, while Pakistan can call upon Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman. With regards to bowling, Australia have the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, while Pakistan have Hasan Ali and Shaheen Afridi.
One area where Pakistan may have an advantage over Australia is in terms of spin bowling. This was evident in the recent Test series between these two nations, where Yasir Shah spun a web around the Australian batsmen.
In conclusion, it is difficult to predict exactly what the future holds for these two teams. However, one thing is for sure – they will continue to be competitive on the international stage and provide some thrilling cricketing contests for fans around the world
Conclusion
Australia and Pakistan have been playing cricket against each other for over 50 years. In that time, there have been some close matches and some one-sided affairs. However, the most recent series between the two teams was something special. Australia came out on top, but Pakistan put up a brave fight and gave them a run for their money. It was a great series to watch, and we can’t wait to see these two teams go head-to-head again in the future.
