Pakistan has secured its first ODI away series triumph over Australia in 22 years after a dazzling display from the team’s pace cartel during Sunday’s eight-wicket victory at Perth Stadium.
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The hosts were bowled out for 140 in 31.5 overs after a pitiful batting performance in the West Australian capital, with Pakistan’s fast bowlers wreaking havoc on the bouncy deck.
Australia lost 6-66 in a grim middle-order collapse before Pakistan chased the 141-run target with 139 balls to spare, prompting chants of ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ around the venue.
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The reigning world champions, missing several multi-format stars due to Test commitments and paternity leave, looked amateurish with the bat and in the field during the must-win series decider.
A late cameo from Sean Abbott, who top-scored with 30, was the lone highlight in an otherwise forgettable batting effort, while returning quick Lance Morris claimed 2-24 from six overs in a promising outing.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s bowlers were nothing short of exceptional, particularly Shaheen Shah Afridi with the new ball. The left-armer finished with 3-32 from 8.5 overs, while fellow quick Naseem Shah claimed 3-54 from nine overs, including the dismissal of rival captain Josh Inglis.
“Pretty disappointing to be honest … we were totally outplayed,” Inglis said during the post-match presentation.
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Young gun Jake Fraser-McGurk was the first to depart after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first, edging an outswinger from Shah through to wicketkeeper Muhammad Rizwan for 7.
Later in the Powerplay, all-rounder Aaron Hardie, promoted to first drop for the series finale, failed to get his bat out of the way while leaving a length delivery from Afridi, with second slip swallowing the chance.
Inglis and opener Matt Short both fell after miscuing pull shots, caught for 7 and 22 respectively, while Glenn Maxwell copped a second-ball duck after a leading edge against Haris Rauf sailed towards backward point.
Cooper Connolly’s maiden ODI knock ended in cruel scenes, sent for scans on a suspected broken wrist after Pakistan seamer Mohammad Hasnain struck him on the hand. A few minutes later, all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, playing his first List A match in nearly 12 months, nicked behind for 8 to give Hasnain his lone breakthrough.
Abbott and Adam Zampa combined for a counterattacking 30-run partnership for the seventh wicket before the latter carved a wide delivery from Shah to point for 13. Afridi returned to clean up the tail, removing Abbott and Morris in the 32nd over to wrap up the innings.
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The run chase was headlined by Australia’s woeful fielding, with Zampa punching the ground in frustration after dropping a regulation catch at deep fine leg to gift Pakistan opener Abdullah Shafique an extra life on 28.
Stoinis missed a run-out chance at the non-striker’s end, Morris dropped a low catch at third man and Spencer Johnson parried a free hit onto the boundary rope for six.
Shafique and opening partner Saim Ayub put together 84 before Morris, playing his first international match since February, removed them both in the 18th over to give Australian fans something to celebrate.
However, Rizwan (30*) and Pakistan superstar Babar Azam (28*) knocked off the remainder of the target with easy to seal a series victory for the tourists.
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