Pakistan overcame Australian spin on a difficult wicket to win the third and final one-day international by four wickets in Lahore, clinching the series 2-1 on Thursday.
Chase Under Pressure
Pakistan had to battle hard on a turning surface, reaching 161-6 in 41.5 overs after Australia had been dismissed for 157 in 42 overs—their lowest ODI total in Pakistan.
All-rounder Shadab Khan, who earlier took 2-28, remained unbeaten on 29, while Abdul Samad was 18 not out to secure the victory.
Australia had won the second match by 41 runs at the same venue to level the series, while Pakistan took the first game in Rawalpindi by five wickets on spin-friendly pitches.
Key Moments
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann (3-38) pushed Australia's hopes when he clean-bowled top-scorer Babar Azam for 40 in the 30th over, leaving Pakistan at 112-6. However, Shadab and Samad showed patience on the abrasive pitch before Shadab smashed Adam Zampa to the long-on boundary for the winning runs.
Australia's Innings
Earlier, Australia's middle order collapsed against the pace of captain Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-30) and the leg-spin of Abrar Ahmed (2-19), despite skipper Josh Inglis scoring 65 off 71 balls after winning the toss and electing to bat.
Inglis's second successive half-century seemed to set Australia up for a challenging total, but no other batter managed more than 19 as the visitors lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs.
Fast bowler Haris Rauf ignited the collapse by bowling Alex Carey (19) in the 23rd over, and then Afridi struck twice in one over with the old ball, dismissing Inglis and Cameron Green in the 27th over.
Cooper Connolly, who replaced Tanveer Sangha for the series decider, lasted only 12 balls and scored 3 before being bowled around his legs while attempting a ramp shot against Abrar, as Australia's middle order struggled against the slow wicket.
Shadab finally got among the wickets after being wicketless in his previous five ODIs, removing Oliver Peake and Zampa, before the tail folded quickly with last man Nathan Ellis run out.
