AUS vs PAK: The three-match ODI series ended in a cliffhanger as Pakistan finally outsmarted Australia with an impressive 8-wicket victory in the final game, comfortably winning the series on their home turf 2-1. The history of victory. Pakistan won its first home ODI series against Australia after 22 years and this remains to be the last series the team enjoyed when the matches were played way back in 2002.
AUS vs PAK: Pakistan thrashed Australia by seven wickets
The side that had won the coin toss decided to field first. This suited the Pakistani bowlers as it was led by the pace duel of Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, after which the batting lineup of Australia was readily dismantled. The visitors were bowled out for a measly 140 runs and failed to put up much resistance before the Pakistan fierce attack.
Both Naseem and Shaheen were irresistible with the ball, both of them claiming three wickets each as they ran through the Australian batsmen for a low total. While Naseem did go a bit wayward and lose some lines, his attacking bowling fetched him some crucial breakthroughs; Shaheen was more disciplined in line and length, adding on by releasing constant pressure on the Australians.
The pressure was added to by Haris Rauf, whose effective bowling continued to stay at the series end. In the last ODI, Rauf had taken two massive wickets in his seven-over spell for just 24 runs. The marksman once again sent out Glenn Maxwell as his third scalp of the series and cemented his position firmly as a match-winner for Pakistan. Overall for the series, he picked up 10 wickets, which well deserved him the Player of the Series award.
Anchored Start to the Chase
Up against a minimal target of 141 runs, the Pakistan batting lineup looked in no form of struggle, it seemed. The openers, Abdullah Shafiq and Sam Ayub spearheaded the chase with a well-placed opening partnership, scoring 84 off the scoreboard to provide a significant foundation for an easy victory. Shafiq composed his way to 37 off 53, while Sam Ayub added a swift 42 from 52 deliveries.
Captaining the side after the departure of the openers, newly appointed ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan took Pakistan to a comfortable win, where apart from being not out with 28 runs, Rizwan added an unbeaten 30 to help the chase finish comfortably as Pakistan won by an 8-wicket margin.
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Mohammad Rizwan’s First Match as Captain Impactful
Also, the series win is an encouraging beginning for Mohammad Rizwan in his ODI captaincy phase. Replacing Shadab Khan right when Pakistan’s series against Australia had begun, Rizwan has shown that he was a good leader and the composure with which he behaved on the ground also did enough to go with the positives of Pakistan’s successful campaign.
A comprehensive win in AUS vs PAK, third ODI reveals much about the performance of Pakistan in the series. With the ball, it was Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf, who all shone brightly, while with the bat, Shafiq, Ayub, Babar, and Rizwan all braved this storm for their side.
This 22-year wait will speak of not just a fight back but the growth and resilience of Pakistan and give them a much-needed injection of confidence as it looks forward to the challenges ahead in what is considered a prestigious series, one of those being the Champions Trophy.
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