Pakistan records series win in Australia after 22 years

Pakistan achieved a historic series victory in Australia with an emphatic eight-wicket win in Perth, marking their first ODI series win on Australian soil since 2002.

The series followed a similar pattern to the 2002 triumph, where Pakistan also bounced back after losing the opening match to claim the series 2-1.

Pakistan’s bowlers dominated the Australian batting in both series. In 2002, Australian batters had struggled, with Adam Gilchrist and Damien Martyn managing a top score of only 56.

This time, no Australian player reached a half-century in any of the three matches, marking a historic low for Australian batting in a bilateral men’s ODI series. Josh Inglis was the top scorer with 49 in this series, while Australia’s team batting average plummeted to 16.88 – their worst in any home ODI series.

In the 2002 series, Australia were bowled out for 167 and 165 in the second and third ODIs. Similarly, in 2024, Pakistan’s bowlers restricted Australia to 163 and 140 in the last two matches.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan, commentating for Fox Sports, remarked, "I’ve never seen an Australian batting line-up look so exposed."

Shoaib Akhtar had been the standout bowler in 2002 with seven wickets in two games. In 2024, Haris Rauf took the lead with 10 wickets, emerging as the highest wicket-taker for the series. Pakistan's fast-bowling unit accounted for a combined 26 wickets across the series.

Australia’s batting exposed

Pakistan again relied on their pace attack and opted to field first in the third ODI to exploit the bounce in Perth. This strategy paid off, as Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets each, bowling out an understrength Australian side for 140 in just 31.5 overs. Afridi (3-32) and Shah (3-54) led the attack, supported by Rauf’s 2-24.

Australia, missing key players like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, struggled with an experimental lineup.

Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short opened for the third consecutive match, seeking runs after failures in Melbourne and Adelaide. Fraser-McGurk, however, fell for seven to a Naseem Shah delivery, while Aaron Hardie, replacing Smith, managed only 12 before being caught at slip off Afridi.

Pakistan's Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah took three wickets each in the third ODI against Australia in Perth.PCB

Stand-in captain Josh Inglis was dismissed for just seven, with Australia struggling at 56-3 in the 11th over. Rizwan set a record by taking 10 catches in the series, the most by any player in a 3-match ODI series. Rauf, after a 5-29 haul in Adelaide, dismissed Matt Short for 22, and Glenn Maxwell fell to him for the third time in the series, managing only two deliveries.

With Australia reeling at 88-6 in the 21st over, Adam Zampa and Sean Abbott tried to mount a resistance with a 30-run partnership. Zampa eventually fell at 7-119, and Abbott’s 30 off 41 balls provided a final push before being dismissed by Shaheen Afridi.

Pakistan’s aggressive response

Chasing a target of 141, Pakistan's openers, Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique, continued their strong form from the previous game, where they scored 82 and an unbeaten 64, respectively.

In Pakistan’s 2002 series win, a young Imran Nazir was the top scorer, and while Ayub's shot selection echoed Saeed Anwar's finesse, his attacking mindset was reminiscent of Nazir’s bold style.

Ayub signaled his intentions early, striking a boundary off Marcus Stoinis on the first ball he faced in the second over. Shafique, on the other hand, was more cautious during the opening six overs, while Ayub kept up his aggression. This positive approach from Ayub seemed to inspire Shafique, who launched Sean Abbott’s for a six in his first over.

Pakistan's Saim Ayub was the highest run-scorer (125) in the three-match series.PCB

The pair particularly targeted Abbott, hitting several boundaries off the pacer to keep Pakistan’s chase on track.

Australia found a much-needed breakthrough through Lance Morris, who ended the 84-run stand by dismissing Shafique on a return catch for 37. Morris struck again in the same over, removing Ayub for 42.

With two new batters at the crease, Pakistan relied on the experience of Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan.

Babar, who had sealed the previous game in Adelaide with a six, displayed some of his finest strokes.

Right after Ayub’s dismissal, Babar elegantly drove Spencer Johnson’s first delivery for a boundary. He then added a classic straight drive and another stylish on-drive against Lance Morris.

While Babar focused on boundaries, Rizwan aimed to wrap up the game quickly, striking two sixes and a four in his brisk 27-ball innings.

The seasoned duo guided Pakistan to victory in 26.5 overs, staying unbeaten on 28 and 30, respectively, to clinch the win.