Cricket: Pakistan clinch 2-1 ODI series win in Australia

Pakistan have claimed a rare away series win over Australia, winning by eight wickets in the third ODI in Perth on Sunday.

Having lost 27 of their last 28 games in Australia prior to this tour, Pakistan’s 2-1 series win defied cricket bookmakers’ odds and stunned the reigning world champions.

“This means a lot to Pakistan, because we’ve been struggling a lot for the last few months,” player of the match Haris Rauf said afterwards.

“We’re playing for the fans who come to the ground every time to support us.

“We’ve been practicing a lot the past few weeks, talking among the fast bowlers, communicating well, and it’s paying off.”

It was another clinical display from Pakistan with the ball, who for the second ODI in a row bowled Australia out in less than 35 overs.

Pacers Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/32), Naseem Shah (3/54) and Rauf (2/24) took the lion’s share of the wickets, reducing the hosts to 6/88 before Australia eked their way to 140 all out.

Matthew Short (22) got a start at the head of the innings, as did first-drop Aaron Hardie (12), but the rest of Australia’s top seven came and went quickly for single digits.

Only a resilient 30 from Sean Abbott plus cameos from Adam Zampa (13) and Spencer Johnson (12*) saved the home team from being kept to a much lower score.

Pakistan’s reply was a mirror image of the second ODI, with openers Saim Ayub (42) and Abdullah Shafique (37) going about their work steadily to break the back of the chase.

When both fell in the 18th over, Babar Azam (28*) and Mohammad Rizwan (30*) came to the crease and took the tourists to a famous victory, cantering to 2/143 from just 26.5 overs.

“Pretty disappointing performance,” stand-in captain Josh Inglis said of Australia’s efforts.

“Completely outplayed.

“It’s up to us to get through tough periods.

“Really cool experience captaining Australia but pretty disappointing series.”

Australia now have an immediate opportunity for redemption, with more white-ball cricket just around the corner as the two sides head to Brisbane this Thursday for the first of three T20Is.

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