Pakistan wins ODI series in Australia after 22 years

PERTH: Pakistan achieved a historic One-Day International (ODI) series victory over Australia on their home ground, ending a 22-year drought. The thrilling finale in Perth saw Pakistan’s bowlers deliver a masterclass, dismissing Australia for 140 runs in just 31.5 overs.

Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan won the toss and elected to bowl first on a pitch that seemed consistent. This decision proved pivotal as Pakistan’s pace attack, led by Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi, took three wickets each, while Haris Rauf claimed two and Mohammad Hasnain grabbed one. Australia’s batting lineup struggled, with Sean Abbott top-scoring at 30 runs.

Australia made five changes to their lineup, but their revamped team failed to deliver. Key players like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Adam Zampa were dismissed cheaply, with Maxwell falling to Rauf for zero – his third consecutive failure against the pacer in the series.

In pursuit of a modest 141-run target, Pakistan’s openers Abdullah Shafique (37) and Saim Ayub (42) laid a solid foundation. Captain Rizwan and Babar Azam then took over, remaining unbeaten to seal the win in the 26th over.

This decisive victory marked Pakistan’s first ODI series win in Australia since 2002. The series had been evenly poised, with Australia narrowly winning the first ODI by two wickets and Pakistan dominating the second, thanks to their exceptional bowling performance.

Pakistan’s unchanged squad demonstrated remarkable consistency and teamwork, while Australia’s revamped lineup failed to capitalize on their home advantage. The win underscores Pakistan’s growing strength in international cricket and sets the stage for future success.