LAHORE: Pakistan secured a nervy four-wicket victory to seal the three-match ODI series against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Set a challenging 158, Pakistan huffed and puffed to reach the target in 41.3 overs, losing six wickets in the process.
Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat were off the blocks quick, racing to 27 in three overs. But it was Nathan Ellis who broke through for the visitors, cleaning up Sahibzada Farhan for six.
Sadaqat also fell soon after, pinned by Matthew Short. He hit five fours in his 27 off 26 balls.
Australia continued to chip in with regular strikes, with Ghazi Ghori, the next batter to fall. He only managed eight before perishing to Matthew Kuhnemann. As a result, the home side were 60-3 after 13 overs.
Babar Azam remained key for Pakistan, stitching a crucial 33-run stand with Salman Ali Agha, which brought the score near the 100-run mark.
However, things turned quickly for the home side as Australian spinners reaped rewards for squeezing runs flow. It was Kunhnemann’s triple strike, including two in an over, that jolted Green Shirts’ progress.
Consequently, they were languishing at 112-6 in 30.4 overs. Babar top-scored with 40 off 84 balls, hitting three boundaries.
Eventually, it was Shadab Khan and Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 49-run partnership that took them home. Both batters negotiated excessive spin and soaked up all the pressure. Samad made 13* off 25 while Shadab remained not out on 15.
For Australia, Matthew Kuhnemann returned with the figures of 3/38 in 10 overs while Matthew Short, Matt Renshaw, and Nathan Ellis scalped one apiece.
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With this, Pakistan completed a 2-1 victory over Australia.
Earlier, Shaheen Afridi’s three-wicket haul headlined a clinical bowling display from Pakistan as they bowled Australia out for a modest total in the series decider at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
The visitors’ decision to bat first backfired as they were bowled out for just 157 in 42 overs.
Shaheen Afridi started the proceedings for Pakistan, setting the tone early with a wicket in the first over. Matthew Short was caught at mid on for a two-ball duck.
Marnus Labuschagne and Josh Inglis tried to rebuild with a 46-run stand, ending the powerplay on a positive note. Australia’s skipper capitalized on the fielding restrictions and took on the bowlers.
However, a good piece of fielding brought the partnership to an end with Labuschagne’s wicket. He made 19 off 39 with the aid of two fours.
The dismissals at regular intervals remained the pattern for Australia throughout the series and in the third ODI as well.
Josh Inglis remained the only silver lining, top-scoring with counterattacking 65 off 71 deliveries, hitting a six and eight fours.
Shaheen accounted for his wicket in the 27th over, which sparked a collapse that the visitors could never recover from. They slumped from 119-4 to 126-6 in a span of four overs.
Eventually, another run-out ended the innings for Australia. Nathan Ellis (1) was the player for the fall, marking an end to Australia’s disappointing series with the bat.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi took three wickets, whereas Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed took each.