ISLAMABAD/Perth (Newsman): It was first series of newly appointed captain Rizwan after Babar Azam’s continuous failures after World Cup 2022, which he won and made a surprise revert to victory stand.
Abdullah Shafique @ 37 Saim Ayub made 42 and as Pakistan easily got its eight-wicket win. It was first one-day international (ODI) series win against and in Australia after 22 years.
Chasing Australia’s modest 141-run target, the Green shirts easily past the victory line in 26.5 overs in the series decider.
Wicket-keeper batman and Captain Mohammad Rizwan’s team completed their easy target in the 27th over.
The very robust performance, aided by high-quality bowling from Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, mavelled a first ODI series victory in Australia since 2002.
Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf restricted the world champion hosts to merely 140 which Pakistan finished a smooth chase in the third ODI and final game.
Newly appointed captain Rizwan had lost a tense first match in Melbourne by two wickets but bounced back with an complete nine-wicket victory in Adelaide in 2nd ODI.
Naseem Shah and Shaheen Afridi (son in law of famous cricketer Shahid Afridi) both had three wickets as Australia could only set a score for Pakistan just at 141 to win.
Earlier, Pakistan Skipper Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to field first with sending in the hosts to bat first.
The pacers proved no match for a high-quality attack led by Shaheen (3-32) and Naseem (3-54), with support from Haris (2-24). While, the Australian bowling was not bad but they could not achieve wickets timely and Pakistani side stay stronger.
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Australia played without Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, along with pace trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc who are at rested before the upcoming Test series against India.
On Australian side, for the 3rd consecutive game, Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk opened the batting, desperate for getting runs after even failing to create an impact at Melbourne and Adelaide in previous matches.
A pacer suited pitch Fraser-McGurk, remained flopped, nicking a swinging Naseem Shah ball to wicketkeeper captain Rizwan on seven.
Aaron Hardie, who was promoted to three in place of Smith, lasted for only 13 balls for his 12 runs before caught at slip off the dangerous Shaheen Afridi.
This brought stand-in skipper Josh Inglis to the batting, but he too departed only for 7, playing a Naseem Shah bouncer that Mohammad Rizwan collected to remain Australia on 56-3 in just 11th over.
Rauf, who got 5-29 in Adelaide, then scored short (22) before youngster Cooper Connolly, in just his second ODI, was left to retire hurt on seven after a nasty fast blow hit his hand.
Also Read: Australia won by 2-wickets Against Pakistan in 1st ODI
Then came Glenn Maxwell who is out-of-form and could just survived two balls with Haris Rauf bagging him for the third time in this series, gave a catch at point by Saim Ayub, while Marcus Stoinis could only add 8 to the score as Australia was stumbling to 88 for 6 in the just 21st over.
The tail end of last wickets, Abbott and Adam Zampa (13) shared a good 30-run partnership before they were mopped up.
Australian Side: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (capt), Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson, Lance Morris
Pakistani Team: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (capt), Kamran Ghulam, Agha Salman, Irfan Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain