Pakistan’s fast bowler Haris Rauf has reached a significant milestone in T20 Internationals, further establishing his presence on the global cricket scene.
On Saturday, Australia defeated Pakistan by 13 runs in the second match of the three-match T20 series, securing a 0-2 lead in the series, rendering the final match of less importance.
Australia’s captain, Josh Inglis, won the toss and chose to bat first, posting a challenging total of 147 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in their allotted 20 overs.
Haris Rauf took 4 wickets, while Abbas Afridi claimed 3 wickets, both contributing heavily to the team’s effort in defending the target.
Chasing Australia’s target of 148, Pakistan was bowled out for 134 runs in 19.4 overs, falling short despite a strong effort.
Haris Rauf, who performed excellently in the second T20, reached a significant milestone with his 4-wicket haul in this match, marking another achievement in his career.
By taking 4 wickets, Haris Rauf became the joint highest wicket-taker for Pakistan in T20 Internationals, a major accomplishment in his cricket journey.
Having played 72 T20 Internationals, Haris has now taken 107 wickets, the most by any Pakistani bowler in this format, showcasing his consistency.
Pakistan’s leg-spinner Shadab Khan has also taken 107 wickets in 96 innings, matching Haris’ record but in more matches, further adding to Pakistan’s bowling depth.
Moreover, Haris Rauf’s remarkable bowling performance in the second match, where he bowled 4 overs, conceded only 22 runs, and took 4 wickets, set a new record in Australia.
Previously, Sri Lanka’s Nuwan Pradeep held the record for the best performance by an overseas bowler in T20 Internationals in Australia, having taken 4 wickets for 31 runs in 2017.
The third T20 match between Pakistan and Australia will be played on Monday, with Pakistan aiming to bounce back and end the series on a high note.
