Pakistan secure historic ODI series victory in Australia after 22-year drought

PERTH: A combined team effort under newly-appointed captain Mohammad Rizwan steered Pakistan to their first ODI series victory in Australia since 2002 as they won the third ODI by eight wickets here at Perth Stadium on Sunday.

Pakistan staged an impressive comeback to win the three-match series 2-1 against Australia after losing the first match.

Chasing a modest target of 141, the visitors successfully achieved the total in 26.5 overs with Babar Azam finishing the game in style with a boundary off Adam Zampa.

Opening batters Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique set the tone for the run-chase with an opening partnership of 84 runs.

Lance Morris gave Australia something to cheer for as he dismissed both batters in the same over to break Pakistan’s momentum.

Saim top-scored with 42 runs from 52 balls, which featured four boundaries and one six, while Abdullah played a 37-run knock from 53 balls with one six and one four.

With 57 runs to win, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan joined hands to steer the team to an eight-wicket victory with an unbeaten 58-run stand.

Rizwan scored 30 off 27, laced with two sixes and one four, while Babar struck 28 off 30 with four boundaries.

Mohammad Rizwan opted to field first and his bowlers once again proved the decision right with Naseem Shah drawing first blood by removing Jake Fraser-McGurk (7).

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Matthew Short held on to his end for a cautious 20-run knock from 30 balls as he watched two more wickets falling on the other end.

Haris Rauf ended Short’s innings in the 14th over to reduce Australia to 72-4. Meanwhile, Cooper Connolly (7) was retired hurt after getting struck on his left hand by Mohammad Hasnain while attempting a pull.

Marcus Stoinis (8) and Glenn Maxwell (0) also fell in quick succession, leaving Australia reeling at 88-6 in 20.3 overs.

Sean Abbott then played a counter-attacking innings of 30 runs, stitching two valuable partnerships of 30 and 22 runs with Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson to push the team’s total to 140.

However, Shaheen dismissed Abbott and Lance Morris in the same over to end Australia’s innings as Connolly was unable to return to bat.

Shaheen and Naseem led Pakistan’s bowling attack as they took three wickets each. Meanwhile, Haris bagged two and Hasnain managed one wicket.

Pakistan Playing XI: Abdullah Shafique, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (c)(wk), Kamran Ghulam, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Muhammad Irfan Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.

Australia Playing XI: Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis (c)(wk), Cooper Connolly, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell,  Sean Abbott, Spencer Johnson, Lance Morris, Adam Zampa.

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