Hosts Hold Their Nerve on a Tricky Wicket to Reach Target
Pakistan overcame Australian spin on a challenging wicket to secure victory in the third and final one-day international by four wickets in Lahore, clinching the series 2-1 on Thursday.
Pakistan had to battle hard on a turning pitch to reach 161-6 in 41.5 overs after Australia was dismissed for 157 in 42 overs, marking their lowest ODI total in Pakistan.
All-rounder Shadab Khan, who earlier took 2-28, remained unbeaten on 29, while Abdul Samad contributed 18 not out, guiding Pakistan to the win.
Australia had won the second match by 41 runs at the same venue, while Pakistan secured the first game at Rawalpindi last week by five wickets on spinner-friendly pitches.
Key Moments and Performances
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann (3-38) made a significant impact by clean bowling top-scorer Babar Azam for 40 in the 30th over, reducing Pakistan to 112-6.
However, Shadab and Samad displayed considerable patience on the abrasive surface before Shadab struck Adam Zampa to the long-on boundary for the winning runs.
Earlier, Australia’s middle order collapsed against the pace of Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-30) and the leg-spin of Abrar Ahmed (2-19), despite skipper Josh Inglis scoring 65 off 71 balls after winning the toss and electing to bat first.
Inglis’s second consecutive half-century appeared to keep Australia on course for a competitive total, but no other batter scored more than 19 as the visitors lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf initiated the collapse by hitting the top of Alex Carey’s middle stump (19) in the 23rd over. Afridi then struck twice in one over with the old ball, dismissing Inglis and Cameron Green in the 27th over.
Cooper Connolly, who replaced Tanveer Sangha for the series decider, lasted only 12 balls and scored 3 before being bowled around the legs attempting a ramp shot against Abrar, as Australia’s middle order struggled to adapt to the slow wicket.
Shadab finally broke his wicketless streak in ODIs by removing Oliver Peake and Zampa, leading to a rapid tail collapse when last man Nathan Ellis was run out.
