Pakistan stun Australia to win first ODI series Down Under in 22 years

Pakistan’s victory over Australia in the third and final ODI on Sunday secured a historic series win, marking the first time in 22 years that Pakistan has triumphed in a 50-over series on Australian soil. The last time the Green Shirts celebrated an ODI series win in Australia was back in 2002, making this a long-awaited achievement for the team and its fans.

Chasing a modest 141-run target set by Australia, Pakistan comfortably reached 143-2 in just 26.5 overs, clinching an eight-wicket win and sealing the three-match series 2-1. An unchanged Pakistan side showcased impressive consistency, holding the Australians to 140 runs in 31.5 overs before chasing down the target with ease.

Highlighting the diminishing popularity of ODI cricket, the Australian team decided to rest their red-ball players for this game as they gear up for an upcoming high-stakes Test series against India, starting on November 22. With the absence of several key players, Australia struggled against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack, led by fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah, who each claimed three wickets. In the first powerplay, Afridi and Shah set the tone by dismissing openers Jake Fraser-McGurk (7) and Aaron Hardie (12).

Australia’s stand-in captain Josh Inglis, leading the team for the first time, was dismissed for seven, edging a delivery from Naseem to Mohammad Rizwan behind the stumps in the 11th over. Shortly afterward, opener Matt Short (22) was caught at square-leg trying to pull a fiery delivery from Haris Rauf, who finished with figures of 2-24. The game further slipped out of Australia’s control when Mohammad Hasnain delivered a fierce bouncer to Cooper Connolly, injuring the young batsman’s left hand and forcing him to retire hurt.

Rauf continued to exert pressure, dismissing Glenn Maxwell for zero and leaving Australia in a perilous position at 79-5. Pakistan’s seamers carried the momentum, maintaining pressure throughout as Australia’s lower order failed to recover. Despite a top score of 30 from Sean Abbott, Australia was bundled out for 140.

In Pakistan’s reply, openers Saim Ayub (42) and Abdullah Shafique (37) laid a solid foundation with an 84-run stand. Both batsmen, fresh from half-centuries in the previous match, played with confidence and aggression. Lance Morris provided some respite for the Australian fans by taking two quick wickets, dismissing both openers in the 18th over. However, Mohammad Rizwan (30*) and skipper Babar Azam (28*) smoothly guided Pakistan to victory without further incident.

After the match, Rizwan expressed his pride in leading Pakistan to this milestone win. “This is a very special moment for me,” said the captain, commending his team’s resilience and the bowling unit’s exceptional performance. He also praised openers Saim and Abdullah for giving Pakistan strong starts in the last two matches, which set the foundation for their success.

Australian captain Inglis, reflecting on the defeat, acknowledged that Pakistan had outclassed his side, particularly criticizing Australia’s batting in the second and third ODIs, where they failed to post competitive totals.

Haris Rauf, who took home both the Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards, credited the bowlers’ pre-series planning, which he said played a key role in Pakistan’s series victory. Rauf’s 10 wickets over three matches were crucial in dismantling Australia’s batting lineup. Saim Ayub, meanwhile, emerged as Pakistan’s leading scorer with 125 runs across the series, including impressive knocks of 82 and 42 in the last two games.

Pakistan’s dominant performance in this series has provided a significant morale boost as they look to build on their form heading into future tournaments.