Pakistan: The last match of the three-match One-Day International series between Australia and Pakistan was played in Perth on 10 November (Sunday). In this match, Pakistan won by 8 wickets over hosts Australia. In the match, the Green Shirts got a target of 141 runs to win, which it achieved in just 26.5 overs. With this victory, the Shaheens under the captaincy of Mohammad Rizwan won the three-match ODI series 2-1. The Kangaroos had won the first match of the series by a margin of 2 wickets, while the Pakistani team won the second match by 9 wickets.
Pakistan’s 22 year wait is over
If we look at it, Pakistan team has defeated Australia in a bilateral ODI series at their home after 22 years. Earlier in 2002, under the captaincy of Waqar Younus, the Green Shirts had defeated the Aussies 2-1 in an ODI series at their home. This means that Pakistan’s victory is quite historic. Fast bowler Haris Rauf was selected as ‘Man-of-the-Match’ and ‘Man-of-the-Series’.
Chasing the target in this match, the Mohammad Rizwan-led outfit got off to a great start. The opening duo of Abdullah Shafiq and Saim Ayub together got involved in a partnership of 84 runs for the opening wicket, which made the job easy for Pakistan. Shafiq scored 37 runs in 53 balls with the help of 1 four and a six. Ayub scored 42 runs in 52 balls, which included 4 fours and a maximum.
Later, the duo of Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafiq were run out by pacer Lance Morris. From here, Babar Azam and skipper Mohammad Rizwan joined hands in the middle and they stitched an unbeaten partnership of 58 runs to take Pakistan to the doorstep of victory. Babar contributed 30 runs in 28 balls with the help of four fours. While Rizwan scored an unbeaten 30 runs. Rizwan hit two maximums and a four in his 27-ball inning.
Kangaroos swept away by the storm of the trio of Shaheen-Naseeem-Rauf
Earlier, Australia, who lost the toss and came to bat first, were bundled out for an embarrassing score of 140 runs in 31.5 overs. Sean Abbott top scored with a knock of 30 runs in 41 balls for Australia, which included 2 fours and a six. Opening batsman Matthew Short scored 22 runs. Apart from this, only Adam Zampa (13 runs), Aaron Hardy (12 runs) and Spencer Johnson (11* runs) could reach double figures. The duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Naseem Shah took three wickets a piece for the visitors while Haris Rauf dismissed 2 batters and Mohammad Hasnain got one wicket.
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