WATCH, AUS vs PAK | Rizwan’s ‘appeal for everything’ gets its own dose of medicine courtesy of Zampa’s DRS taunt

ByDebayan Sinha, SportsCafe Editor

Last Friday at 5:23 PM

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Few actions remain consistent, and Mohammad Rizwan's relentless appeals behind the stumps are a prime example. A similar moment unfolded during the second ODI between Australia and Pakistan in Melbourne when the Pakistani captain's appeal was met with a witty retort from Adam Zampa.

‌Pakistan’s decision to bowl first worked well as Shaheen Afridi swiftly scalped Jake Fraser-McGurk on the third over. The woe continued when Matthew Short was scalped by Afridi as Australia scorecard looked at 41/2 in the seventh over. But it was Steve Smith and Josh Ingis who stitched a 38 runs and took the scorecard to 78/2 in 13 overs. But Haris Rauf wreaked havoc thereafter as he rattled the Australian middle order and scalped Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Aaron Hardie and Glenn Maxwell. Skipper Pat Cummins and pacer Mitchell Starc too failed to fire as the hosts were reeling at 146/9 in 31.4 overs. Amidst their batting collapse, there came a moment of fun which involved Mohammed Rizwan and Adam Zampa who was Australia’s last man standing.

The incident had taken place on the fourth ball of the 34th over when Zampa attempted a hook shot to a bouncer from Naseem Shah. Rizwan, positioned behind the stumps, had caught the ball cleanly and instantly appealed for a caught behind, convinced it had brushed the bat. Rather than consulting the bowler, Rizwan turned to Zampa, asking for his opinion. Zampa, playfully mocking Rizwan’s habit of frequent appeals, sarcastically encouraged him to review it. Without hesitation, Rizwan decided to challenge the on-field decision.

However, replays showed there had been no contact with the bat, and third umpire Chris Brown upheld the original call and adjudged it to be a wide ball. Though Rizwan’s review was wasted, it did not affect Pakistan, as Zampa was dismissed on the last ball of the following over, and Australia was bowled out for 163.

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