Lightning struck twice indeed as Pakistan registered only their second series win down under in the 21st century with an eight-wicket win over Australia in the third ODI at the Optus Stadium in Perth on Sunday (November 10). Pakistan's previous series victory in Australia had come in a three-match ODI contest back in 2002.
Chasing 141 to win the series, openers Saim Ayub (42 runs off 52 balls) and Abdullah Shafique (37 runs off 53 balls) batted sensibly and negotiated the new ball threat to add 84 runs. Their partnership broke Australia's morale and the hosts also had themselves to blame as Spencer Johnson, Lance Morris and Adam Zampa dropped regulation catches.
Though Morris dismissed both the Pakistani openers, Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam finished the chase in the 27th over of the game.
Pakistan's win was set up beautifully by their four-pronged pace battery. Winning the toss, Pakistan's newly-appointed captain Mohammad Rizwan had no hesitation in fielding first as he wanted to unleash his pace quartet on a fresh and bouncy Perth wicket.
Australia's batting order crumbled under relentless pressure and in the absence of their senior pros who had left the squad to prepare for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Barring opener Matthew Short (22 runs off 30 balls) and Aaron Hardie (12 runs off 13 balls) none of the other frontline batters could even get to double digits. A fact that could help in understanding the efficiency of the Pakistani quicks on the lively wicket at the Optus Stadium is that Cooper Connolly was forced to retire hurt after he copped a blow on his left hand as he tried to pull Mohammad Hasnain while batting at 7.
He was immediately taken for scans and couldn't take part in the remainder of the game.
"Cooper Connolly has been taken for scans on his left hand after being struck while batting in today's ODI. It is possible Connolly will not return to the crease or field in the second innings," a statement released by Cricket Australia revealed.
Bowling allrounder Sean Abbott was the top-scorer for Australia as he scored 30 off 41 balls before getting dismissed in the 32nd over to Shaheen Shah Afridi, who was the pick of all the Pakistani bowlers. Australia couldn't manage to even play their quota of 50 overs and got bundled out for 140 in the 32nd over.
Shaheen finished with figures of 3/32 and received ample support from Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf who bagged three and two wickets respectively.
