Pakistan Triumphs Over Australia to Secure the ODI Series Victory 2-1.
Australia began the home series with a strong performance, winning the first ODI, putting Pakistan on the back foot. But the Pakistani team, known for its resilience, bounced back in the second ODI played on November 8, leveling the series and setting up an intense decider in the third and final match.
Match Details
With the series tied at 1-1, the pressure was high for both teams heading into the third ODI. Winning the toss, Pakistan’s captain Mohammad Rizwan opted to bowl first, a decision that quickly paid off.
Australia Innings
Australia opened with Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk, who started well and seemed set to build a solid foundation. However, Naseem Shah made an early breakthrough, dismissing Fraser-McGurk before he could settle. Aaron Hardie came in next but soon lost his wicket to Shaheen Shah Afridi, who bowled with precision and pace.
From that point on, Pakistan’s bowlers consistently struck at regular intervals, never allowing the Australian batsmen to build momentum. Sean Abbott and Matthew Short managed brief partnerships but were unable to convert their starts into a big total. With continuous pressure from Pakistan’s bowling attack, Australia was bowled out for a modest total of just 140 runs.
The bowling heroes for Pakistan were Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah, both claiming three wickets each. Haris Rauf chipped in with two wickets, while Mohammad Hasnain took one, completing a disciplined bowling performance that kept Australia’s score well within Pakistan’s reach.
Pakistan Innings
Chasing 141, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique gave Pakistan a steady start, building a strong opening partnership. However, Lance Morris disrupted Pakistan’s rhythm by taking both openers in a single over, briefly slowing down Pakistan’s chase.
Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan then stepped in with calm determination, guiding Pakistan safely to victory with eight wickets in hand and 139 balls to spare. The controlled partnership between Babar and Rizwan ensured a comfortable series-clinching win for Pakistan.
Haris Rauf, whose all-round performances in the series were pivotal, was named both Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
Captain Mohammad Rizwan expressed his pride: “This victory is a testament to our teamwork and resilience. The bowlers gave us a strong platform, and every player contributed to this success. We’re grateful for our fans’ unwavering support and look forward to building on this momentum in future series.”
Of @iShaheenAfridi‘s early breakthroughs and @HarisRauf14‘s fiery pace 🔥
Catch the star fast bowlers recapping the ODI series win over Australia 🎙️#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/uMiUnEOzRw
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 11, 2024