National ( The cow news digital ) Pakistan secured a memorable ODI series victory over Australia after defeating the visitors by four wickets in the third and deciding match, sealing the three-match series 2-1.
The final encounter, played in Lahore, saw Australia win the toss and choose to bat first. However, Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack restricted the tourists to a modest total of 157 runs, setting up a manageable chase for the home side.
Australian captain Josh Inglis led his team’s batting effort with a composed knock of 65 runs. Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey contributed 19 runs each, while Adam Zampa added 10. Despite these efforts, Australia struggled to build substantial partnerships against a determined Pakistani bowling unit.
Pakistan’s bowlers delivered an impressive performance throughout the innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi emerged as the standout performer, claiming three wickets and applying constant pressure on the Australian batting lineup. Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan also played crucial roles, picking up two wickets each to keep the visitors under control.
In response, Pakistan approached the chase cautiously and successfully reached the target of 158 runs in the 42nd over, finishing with four wickets in hand. Former captain Babar Azam anchored the innings with a valuable 40-run contribution, while young batter Moaz Sadaqat added 27 runs. Shadab Khan further strengthened Pakistan’s pursuit with an important innings of 28, and Abdul Samad chipped in with 18 runs.
Australia’s bowlers attempted to make the contest competitive, with Matthew Kuhnemann claiming three wickets. Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, and Nathan Ellis took one wicket each, but their efforts were not enough to prevent Pakistan from crossing the finish line.
The series proved to be closely contested from start to finish. Pakistan opened the campaign with a five-wicket victory in the first ODI, demonstrating strong all-round performances. Australia responded in the second match, securing a 42-run win to level the series and force a decider.
With the victory in Lahore, Pakistan claimed the series 2-1 and gained valuable momentum ahead of upcoming international assignments. The success was built on disciplined bowling, responsible batting, and effective teamwork throughout the three-match contest.
The series triumph will be viewed as an encouraging result for Pakistan as the team continues to build confidence and consistency against one of world cricket’s strongest sides.
