Rauf and Ayub star in Pakistan's resounding 9-wicket win over Australia

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Fast bowler Haris Rauf took 5-29 and Saim Ayub scored 82 runs as Pakistan defeated Australia by nine wickets in the second one-day international on Friday.

Australia was 163 all out in 35 overs against Rauf’s relentless pace and left-hander Ayub smashed six sixes and five fours as Pakistan cruised to 169-1 in 26.3 overs to level the three-match series.

Former captain Babar Azam (15 not out) clinched the victory with a pulled six off Adam Zampa with Abdullah Shafique staying unbeaten on 64 off 69 balls which featured four boundaries and three sixes.

The series decider will be played at Perth on Sunday with Australia resting five frontline players to prepare for the five-match home test series against India, starting from Nov. 22 at Perth.

“Obviously this win gives us confidence," said Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan, who won the toss and elected to field. “We want to keep that confidence going. All the bowlers had plans and they worked well.”

The opening pair of Ayub and Shafique had been criticized for a run of low scores in test matches, but both blunted the Australian pace with a match-winning stand of 137 runs after Pakistan kept faith in the duo in the white-ball format.

Ayub took his time against fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc before he grew in confidence and flicked Pat Cummins, Starc and Aaron Hardie for sixes and also smashed Zampa for two big hits.

The left-hander, who made his ODI debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday, got a reprieve just before reaching a half century when Zampa dropped a sitter at third man, but he offered a tame catch at short third man just when he looked set for a century.

Earlier, Rauf, who nearly pulled off a victory for Pakistan in the first game, found the outside edges of the bats consistently by hitting the right lengths.

Wicketkeeper Rizwan took six catches — four off Rauf’s bowling — and could have had a seventh one had he not dropped a top-edge off Zampa (18) before Australia was dismissed.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-26) provided the breakthrough inside the first power play. Jake Fraser-McGurk hit three crisp boundaries on the off side in Naseem Shah’s first over to get Australia rolling before Afridi’s twin strike pushed back Australia.

Afridi dropped Matt Short at deep fine leg when the ball burst through his hands to the boundary but the left-arm fast bowler made amends when he had Short caught at covers after trapping Fraser-McGurk plumb leg before wicket.

Afridi ended Australia’s below-par innings when Zampa played a full ball back onto his stumps. Zampa flicked Naseem Shah for a six and a four in an over which enabled the home team to cross the 150-run mark.

Rauf sliced through the middle-order with only Steve Smith scoring 35 off 48 balls before he too chased a wide short ball of Mohammad Hasnain and edged behind the wicket.

Hazlewood replaced Sean Abbott in the only change Australia made from the team which edged Pakistan in the first game.

Starc, Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Cummins and Hazlewood all will be rested for the final game of the series on Sunday. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis was named interim captain for the last ODI at Perth.

Inglis will also lead the side in next week’s three T20s against Pakistan with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head away on paternity leave.

“Wasn’t one of our best days," Cummins said of Friday's heavy loss. “You hope to get more than 160, (but) they bowled well. We got some catchers in, tried to attack, but it wasn’t to be.”

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Fans wave Pakistan's flag as their team play against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi celebrates the dismissal of Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk during the second one day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Adelaide, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Mohammad Hasnain jumps in air as he celebrates the dismissal of Australia's Steve Smith during the second one day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Adelaide, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Hasan Ali, right, celebrates the wicket of Australia's Glenn Maxwell during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Abdullah Shafique bats against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Adam Zampa drops a catch against Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub raises his bat after making 50 runs against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub, right, hits a six in front of Australia's Josh Inglis during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan drops a catch against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Glenn Maxwell plays a shot during the second one day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Adelaide, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Josh Inglis a hits an edge and is caught out by Pakistan's captain Mohammad Rizwan off the bowling of Pakistan's Haris Rauf during the second one day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Adelaide, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Glenn Maxwell chops onto his stumps off the bowling of Pakistan's Haris Rauf during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Naseem Shah, center, is congratulated by teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Mitchell Starc during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Australia's Glenn Maxwell bats against Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Haris Rauf, left, celebrates taking the wicket of Australia's Aaron Hardie, right, during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Haris Rauf jumps in air as he celebrates the dismissal of Australia's Josh Inglis during the second one day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Adelaide, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Haris Rauf, right, celebrates with teammates after the dismissal of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne during the second one day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Adelaide, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Haris Rauf, left, celebrates the wicket of Australia's Glenn Maxwell during their one day international cricket match in Melbourne, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's not-out batters Pat Cummins, right, and Mitchell Starc walk off the ground after their win over Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Melbourne, Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron vowed Thursday to stay in office until the end of his term, due in 2027, and announced that he will name a new prime minister within days following the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

Macron came out fighting a day after a historic no-confidence vote at the National Assembly left France without a functioning government. He laid blame at the door of his opponents on the far right for bringing down Barnier's government.

“They chose disorder,” he said.

The president said the far right and the far left had united in what he called “an anti-Republican front” and stressed: “I won’t shoulder other people’s irresponsibility.”

He said he’d name a new prime minister within days but gave no hints who that might be.

While critical of his political opponents, Macron also acknowledged his own “responsibility” in the chaos now shaking French politics and alarming financial markets.

He revisited his decision in June to dissolve parliament. That precipitated the crisis, leading to new legislative elections that produced the now hung parliament, divided between three minority blocs that don’t have enough seats to govern alone.

“I do recognize that this decision wasn’t understood. Many people criticized me for it. I know many continue to criticize me for it,” he said. However, he argued, “I believe it was necessary” to let French voters speak.

Earlier in the day, Macron “took note” of Barnier's resignation, the Elysee presidential palace said. Barnier and other ministers will be “in charge of current affairs until the appointment of a new government,” the statement said.

The no-confidence motion passed by 331 votes in the National Assembly, forcing Barnier to step down after just three months in office—the shortest tenure of any prime minister in modern French history.

The new prime minister “will be charged with forming a government of general interest representing all the political forces … that commit not to vote a no-confidence motion,” Macron said.

The priority will be to pass a budget law for 2025, he added.

Macron tore into lawmakers who brought Barnier's government down, accusing them of pursuing their own political interests. He noted that the vote came with the end of year holidays just around the corner.

“Why did lawmakers act this way? They’re not thinking of you, of your lives, your difficulties,” he said. “They’re thinking of just one thing: the presidential election — to prepare it, to provoke it, to precipitate it.”

But Macron said he’d see out the 30 months still left in his second and last term as president.

Macron faces the critical task of naming a replacement capable of leading a minority government in a parliament where no party holds a majority. Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly and a member of Macron’s party, urged the president to move quickly.

“I recommend he decide rapidly on a new prime minister,” Braun-Pivet said Thursday on France Inter radio. “There must not be any political hesitation. We need a leader who can speak to everyone and work to pass a new budget bill.”

The process may prove challenging. Macron’s administration has yet to confirm any names, though French media have reported a shortlist of centrist candidates who might appeal to both sides of the political spectrum.

Macron took more than two months to appoint Barnier after his party’s defeat in June’s legislative elections, raising concerns about potential delays this time.

The no-confidence vote has galvanized opposition leaders, with some explicitly calling for Macron’s resignation.

“I believe that stability requires the departure of the President of the Republic,” said Manuel Bompard, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, on BFM TV Wednesday night.

Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, whose party holds the most seats in the Assembly, stopped short of calling for Macron’s resignation but warned that “the pressure on the President of the Republic will get stronger and stronger.”

Macron, however, has dismissed such calls and ruled out new legislative elections. The French constitution does not call for a president to resign after his government was ousted by the National Assembly.

“I was elected to serve until 2027, and I will fulfill that mandate,” he told reporters earlier this week.

The constitution also says that new legislative elections cannot be held until at least July, creating a potential stalemate for policymakers.

The political instability has heightened concerns about France’s economy, particularly its debt, which could rise to 7% of GDP next year without significant reforms. Analysts say that Barnier's government downfall could push up French interest rates, digging the debt even further.

Rating agency Moody’s warned late Wednesday that the government’s fall “reduces the likelihood of consolidating public finances” and worsens the political gridlock.

Macron’s speech, scheduled for 8 p.m. local time, is expected to address these economic challenges while setting a course for the future government.

A planned protest by teachers against budget cuts in education took on a new tone Thursday, as demonstrators in Paris linked their demands to the political crisis.

“Macron quit!” read a sign held by Dylan Quenon, a 28-year-old teacher at a middle school in Aubervilliers, just north of Paris.

Quenon said Macron bears responsibility for what he described as the dismantling of public services like schools. “The only way for this to change is to have him out of office,” he said.

Protesters expressed little hope that Macron’s next appointee would reverse course.

“I’m glad this government is falling, but it could possibly lead to something even worse,” said Élise De La Gorce, a 33-year-old teacher in Stains, north of Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation as people enjoy a drink in a bar of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP Photo/Nicolas Mollo)

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation as people enjoy a drink in a bar of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP Photo/Nicolas Mollo)

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation as people enjoy a drink in a bar of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP Photo/Nicolas Mollo)

Parliament members gather while France's minority government may be on its last legs as opposition lawmakers moved this week toward a no-confidence vote, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

FILE - French Prime Minister Michel Barnier attends a debate at the National Assembly while France's minority government may be on its last legs as opposition lawmakers moved this week toward a no-confidence vote, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Prime Minister Michel Barnier stand at attention during commemorations marking the 106th anniversary of the November 11, 1918, Armistice, ending World War I, at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. ( Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP, File)