In a remarkable performance on Sunday, Pakistan’s cricket team clinched a historic victory, winning their first One-Day International (ODI) series in Australia since 2002. With standout performances from their pace bowlers, Pakistan stormed to an impressive eight-wicket victory, chasing a modest target set by Australia at Perth Stadium.
Clinical Bowling Performance Restricts Australia to 140
Pakistan’s formidable pace trio – Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf – dismantled the Australian batting lineup, limiting them to just 140 runs. Captain Mohammad Rizwan’s decision to bowl first paid off as Pakistan’s pace attack exploited the pitch conditions, securing a low target for their batters to chase.
Naseem and Shaheen led the charge, each taking three crucial wickets to leave Australia reeling. With Haris Rauf contributing with two more wickets, Pakistan’s bowling unit left little room for Australia to build any significant partnerships.
Steady Chase Led by Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique
Pakistan’s openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique laid a strong foundation, scoring 42 and 37 runs, respectively. Their controlled yet assertive batting ensured Pakistan reached the target smoothly, concluding the chase in just the 27th over. This steady top-order performance was pivotal in sealing Pakistan’s series win and underscored the strength of their batting lineup.
Key Moments of the Match
Pakistan faced a challenging start to the series after narrowly losing the first match in Melbourne by two wickets. However, they regrouped quickly, dominating the second ODI with a commanding nine-wicket win in Adelaide.
In the final match, Australia, without several key players like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, and fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, struggled against Pakistan’s in-form bowlers. Stand-in captain Josh Inglis and opening batters Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short failed to anchor the innings, falling early to Pakistan’s relentless pace attack.
Australia’s Batting Woes Continue
The Australian batting lineup crumbled as Pakistan’s bowlers consistently delivered high-quality, aggressive bowling. Fraser-McGurk and Hardie fell early to Afridi, while Inglis, under pressure as stand-in captain, managed only seven runs. This quick fall of wickets left Australia at a shaky 56-3 by the 11th over.
Resistance from Sean Abbott and Adam Zampa
With little support from the top order, Sean Abbott (30 runs) and Adam Zampa (13 runs) offered a brief respite. Their 30-run partnership helped push Australia past 100 runs, but Pakistan’s pace attack quickly wrapped up the tail, dismissing Australia for a meager total of 140 in the 32nd over.
Pakistan’s Bowling Dominance in Numbers
- Shaheen Shah Afridi: 3/32 in 6 overs
- Naseem Shah: 3/54 in 7 overs
- Haris Rauf: 2/24 in 5 overs
Pakistan and Australia’s Playing XI
Pakistan:
- Batters: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam
- All-Rounders: Kamran Ghulam, Agha Salman, Irfan Khan
- Bowler: Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain
- Wicketkeeper & Captain: Mohammad Rizwan
Australia:
- Batters: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis
- All-Rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott
- Bowler: Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Lance Morris
- Wicketkeeper & Stand-in Captain: Josh Inglis
Looking Ahead
This series win is a major morale booster for Pakistan as they head into future tournaments. Their ability to adapt to Australian pitches and execute their strategies effectively against a traditionally strong team demonstrates the maturity and capability of their squad.
The win will also serve as a reminder of Pakistan’s strength and depth in pace bowling, especially with young talents like Naseem Shah and seasoned bowlers like Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- When was the last time Pakistan won an ODI series in Australia?
Pakistan last won an ODI series in Australia in 2002, making this victory their first in 22 years.
- Who was the top scorer for Pakistan in the third ODI?
Saim Ayub was the top scorer for Pakistan with 42 runs in the third ODI.
- How many wickets did Naseem Shah take in the third ODI?
Naseem Shah took three wickets, contributing significantly to Pakistan’s bowling success.
- Which Australian players were absent in the third ODI?
Key Australian players like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc were rested ahead of the Test series against India.
- Who captained Pakistan in the ODI series?
Mohammad Rizwan served as Pakistan’s captain for this series.
- Who was Australia’s stand-in captain during the ODI series?
Josh Inglis captained Australia in the absence of their regular leadership.
