Shaheen, Babar lead Pakistan to series-clinching win against Australia
Pakistan beat Australia by four wickets in the third ODI in Lahore to win the series 2-1. Shaheen Afridi took 3 for 30 and Babar Azam steadied the chase.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Pakistan bowled Australia out for 157 and then chased 158 with 8 overs to spare, sealing the ODI series 2-1. Shaheen Afridi, Babar Azam, Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed were the main performers in a controlled home win.
Pakistan played like a team that first broke Australia’s toys, then calmly finished the job. The bowlers kept Australia low, and when the batting got shaky, Babar Azam and later two late hitters made sure the chase got over the line.
Analysis
Pakistan delivered a disciplined all-round performance in Lahore to win the third ODI by four wickets and clinch the three-match series 2-1. Australia chose to bat first but were restricted to 157 in 42 overs, with Pakistan’s bowlers taking control early and never letting the innings fully recover.
Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone by bowling Matthew Short with the second ball of the match. He later returned to remove Australia captain Josh Inglis and Cameron Green, finishing with 3 for 30. Abrar Ahmed also played a key role with 2 for 19, while Shadab Khan added 2 for 28. Australia’s innings was held together mainly by Inglis, who top-scored with 65, but regular wickets and a run-out kept the visitors from building a stronger total.
Pakistan’s chase of 158 was not smooth. Sahibzada Farhan fell early, and Maaz Sadaqat’s quick 27 off 26 balls briefly lifted the tempo before Pakistan slipped to 41 for 2. Babar Azam then anchored the innings with a measured 40 off 84 balls, giving Pakistan stability through the middle overs. After Pakistan stumbled again and reached 112 for 6, Abdul Samad and Shadab Khan closed the game with an unbroken 49-run stand. Samad made 18 not out and Shadab finished unbeaten on 29, taking Pakistan home in 41.5 overs.
The result gave Pakistan their third consecutive ODI series win over Australia, and Shaheen was named player of the match. Arafat Minhas was player of the series.
Key points
- Pakistan beat Australia by four wickets in the third ODI in Lahore to win the series 2-1.
- Australia were bowled out for 157, with Shaheen Shah Afridi taking 3 for 30.
- Babar Azam top-scored for Pakistan with a patient 40 off 84 balls.
- Abdul Samad and Shadab Khan added an unbeaten 49-run stand to finish the chase.
- Pakistan won a third straight ODI series against Australia.
If Pakistan keeps this bowling form, it can continue to put pressure on strong teams by defending modest totals. The finish from Abdul Samad and Shadab Khan also suggests the lower middle order can help close out tight games.
The chase still had a collapse in the middle, with Pakistan losing six wickets for 112, which would be costly against a stronger bowling day. If Babar Azam does not provide a steady anchor, similar low chases could become much more difficult.
