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- PAK vs AUS Highlights, 3rd ODI: Pakistan beat Australia by 4 wickets, win series 2-1
PAK vs AUS Highlights, 3rd ODI: Pakistan beat Australia by 4 wickets, win series 2-1
Australia won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to make the most of conditions that appeared similar to those seen in the previous match. Captain Josh Inglis expressed confidence in his batting unit after a strong showing in the second ODI and revealed that Cooper Connolly comes into the side as the visitors look to post a commanding total.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have retained the same XI that helped them level the series. Captain Shaheen Afridi believes the pitch has remained unchanged and stressed the importance of bowling disciplined lines and breaking partnerships early. Much of Pakistan’s hopes will once again rest on the pace trio of Shaheen, Haris Rauf and Abrar Ahmed, while Babar Azam enters the contest with renewed confidence after finding form with a half-century earlier in the series.
One of the major talking points has been the emergence of Arafat Minhas, who announced himself with a five-wicket haul on ODI debut. The youngster will be keen to continue his impressive run in a match carrying high stakes.
The occasion also carries an emotional touch as legendary Pakistan supporter Chacha Cricket, known for following the team across the globe, is set to make his final appearance at the venue. With clear skies returning after heavy rain earlier in the day, fans will be hoping for an uninterrupted contest and a fitting finale to a closely fought series.
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Abrar drags his length back, on off, Oliver Peake gets on his toes and punches it to cover.
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Full, on off, Oliver Peake defends it back to the bowler.
- Oliver Peake 6 (7)
- Matthew Kuhnemann 1 (7)
Shaheen Afridi to Oliver Peake, Good-length delivery, outside off, Oliver Peake opens the face of the bat and steers it to deep backward point for one.
Shaheen Afridi to Matthew Kuhnemann, Yorker, outside off, Matthew Kuhnemann jams it to cover for a single.
Shaheen Afridi to Matthew Kuhnemann, Very full and outside off, Matthew Kuhnemann gets his bat away from his body to fend it away but fails to connect.
Shaheen Afridi to Oliver Peake, On a hard length, pitching it on middle and angling down the leg side. Oliver Peake fends it to deep cover for a comfortable single.
Shaheen Afridi to Oliver Peake, Back of a length, outside off, Oliver Peake shoulders at it.
Shaheen Afridi to Oliver Peake, Much fuller, on off. Oliver Peake, with no footwork, defends it down the track.
- Matthew Kuhnemann 0 (5)
- Oliver Peake 4 (3)
Abrar Ahmed to Matthew Kuhnemann, Flatter this time, fullish, outside off, Matthew Kuhnemann keeps it away. A wicket maiden over from Abrar Ahmed!
Abrar Ahmed to Matthew Kuhnemann, Full again, just outside off, Kuhnemann brings out his solid defence.
Abrar Ahmed to Matthew Kuhnemann, Pitches it up, does Abrar, on off, Matthew Kuhnemann dead bats it.
Abrar Ahmed to Matthew Kuhnemann, Flighted it up, fuller in length, just outside off, Matthew Kuhnemann eases it to the off side.
Abrar Ahmed to Matthew Kuhnemann, Tossed up, fuller on off, Marnus Labuschagne lunges and defends it back to the bowler.
DRINKS! With that wicket, the umpires have called for drinks here. Pakistan are well ahead in the game now, and they will be hoping to pick up the remaining three wickets pretty quickly. The hosts will be eying to restrict Australia to 170-180 if not less. Oliver Peake has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders being the last recognised batter left, but the tail will also need to contribute to get to a fighting score. Also, Matthew Kuhnemann walks out to bat now.
Abrar Ahmed to Cooper Connolly, OUT! CASTLED! Abrar Ahmed simply outfoxes Connolly here and as the batter walks back, Abrar gives him a wink with a smirk on his face. He bowls it short and pitches it outside off, but turns it in sharply into the batter. Cooper Connolly shuffles across the stumps to paddle it toward short fine leg, but completely misses it. The ball beats the willow and rattles into the stumps behind. Australia are 131 for 7 now.
- Oliver Peake 4 (3)
- Cooper Connolly 3 (11)
Shaheen Afridi to Oliver Peake, On a nagging length, outside off, Oliver Peake lets it travel to the keeper.
Shaheen Afridi to Oliver Peake, FOUR! Easy pickings for Peake! Pitches it up, does Afridi, angling into the pads of the batter. Oliver Peake just tickles it away through short fine leg for four runs.
Shaheen Afridi to Cooper Connolly, Full, on off, Cooper Connolly eases it to wide of cover for one.
Shaheen Afridi to Cooper Connolly, A late appeal for LBW, but the umpire remains unmoved. Much fuller yet again from Shaheen, just behind the yorker length. Cooper Connolly blocks it back to the bowler. However, the replay shows that the ball does actually brush the pad and then hits the bat. But it wouldn't have mattered, as the UltraEdge shows that the ball is moving down the leg side.
Shaheen Afridi to Cooper Connolly, Good-length delivery, outside off, Cooper Connolly opens the face of the bat and guides it to backward point.
Shaheen Afridi to Cooper Connolly, Overpitched, on middle, Cooper Connolly punches it to the left of the cover fielder.
- Oliver Peake 0 (1)
- Cooper Connolly 2 (7)
Abrar Ahmed to Oliver Peake, Dragged back, on middle and leg, Oliver Peake pushes it back to the bowler.
Abrar Ahmed finally gets a wicket. Oliver Peake is the new man in for Australia.
Abrar Ahmed to Matt Renshaw, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Abrar Ahmed strikes now. He bowls wrong'un from over the wicket, lands this on middle and gets it to turn away late. Matt Renshaw loses a bit of patience and looks to go big down the ground, but does not read the googly. He only manages to get a thin outside edge towards first slip, where Salman Agha shows excellent reflexes to take a sharp catch around his shoulder with the ball travelling pretty quickly to him. Australia slip from 98/2 to 126/6.
Abrar Ahmed to Matt Renshaw, Flighted, full and on middle, Matt Renshaw looks to drive it away but gets an inside edge towards short mid-wicket.
Abrar Ahmed to Matt Renshaw, Tossed up, full and on middle, Matt Renshaw clips it towards mid-wicket.
Abrar Ahmed to Cooper Connolly, Short again and on off, Cooper Connolly pats it in front of short cover for a single.
Abrar Ahmed to Cooper Connolly, Floated, short and on middle, turns in, Cooper Connolly stays back and nudges it to short mid-wicket.
- Matt Renshaw 4 (10)
- Cooper Connolly 1 (5)
Shaheen Afridi to Matt Renshaw, Short of a length and on off, Matt Renshaw hops up to ride the bounce and keeps it out to the off side.
Shaheen Afridi to Matt Renshaw, Beauty! Shaheen Afridi lands this on a nagging length, in the channel outside off, threatens to angle in but straightens after hitting the deck. Matt Renshaw has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.
Shaheen Afridi to Matt Renshaw, Right in the blockhole, on middle, tails in once again, Matt Renshaw digs it out towards mid-wicket.
Shaheen Afridi to Matt Renshaw, Good length and on middle, holds its line, Matt Renshaw gets squared up but manages well to block it down the pitch.
Shaheen Afridi to Matt Renshaw, A full toss, on middle, tailing in a bit, Matt Renshaw flicks it away wide of deep mid-wicket for a brace.
Shaheen Afridi to Matt Renshaw, Full and on middle, angling in, Matt Renshaw drives it off the inner half of the bat towards mid on.
- Cooper Connolly 1 (5)
- Matt Renshaw 2 (4)
Abrar Ahmed to Cooper Connolly, Darts this one full, on middle, Cooper Connolly pushes it back to the bowler.
Abrar Ahmed to Cooper Connolly, Flatter, full and on middle, Cooper Connolly turns it to the leg side.
Abrar Ahmed to Cooper Connolly, Slows it up, full and on off, turns in, Cooper Connolly taps it out to short cover.
Abrar Ahmed to Matt Renshaw, Flighted, full and on middle, Matt Renshaw drills it down to long on for a run.
Abrar Ahmed to Matt Renshaw, Tossed up, full and on off, Matt Renshaw steps across and tucks it to short mid-wicket.
Abrar Ahmed to Cooper Connolly, Floated, full and on middle, Cooper Connolly goes down on one knee and paddles it towards fine leg for a single.
- Matt Renshaw 1 (2)
- Cooper Connolly 0 (1)
Shaheen Afridi to Matt Renshaw, Another full delivery, on middle, Matt Renshaw knocks it back to the bowler.
Shaheen Afridi to Cooper Connolly, Good length and around leg, tails in a bit, Cooper Connolly misses his flick as the ball goes off his pads towards square leg. A leg bye taken.
Cooper Connolly is in at number 7.
Shaheen Afridi to Cameron Green, OUT! TAKEN! Double whammy from Shaheen Afridi, and this game has turned on its head. Pitched-up delivery, on middle, angling in a bit. Cameron Green looks to flick it off his pads with hard hands but the ball just holds up in the surface a bit. He fails to keep his shot down and hits it straight to short mid-wicket, where Babar Azam reacts quickly to take a sharp catch to his right. Australia lose half their side now.
Shaheen Afridi to Cameron Green, Full and on middle, Cameron Green drils it towards mid on with a straight bat.
Shaheen Afridi to Matt Renshaw, On a length and around leg, Matt Renshaw clips it through square leg for a single.
Shaheen Afridi strikes straightaway. A massive wicket for Pakistan. Matt Renshaw is the new batter.
Shaheen Afridi comes back into the attack.
Shaheen Afridi to Josh Inglis, OUT! CAUGHT! Shaheen Afridi gets rid of the Aussie skipper at a crucial time. This is fuller delivery, on off, angling in a bit. Josh Inglis looks to attack and goes for the big booming drive but his bat turns in his hands. He ends up spooing it off the bottom half of the bat towards mid on, where Sahibzada Farhan takes a simple catch. Inglis is frustrated with himself but has to walk back after another fine knock for his side. Australia are 119/4 now.
- Cameron Green 7 (13)
- Josh Inglis 65 (70)
Arafat Minhas to Cameron Green, Loops it up, full and on middle, Cameron Green defends it on the front foot.
Australia chose to bat after winning the toss, backing their in-form batting lineup to take advantage of familiar conditions. Skipper Josh Inglis noted that the surface looked much like the one used in the previous game and expressed confidence that his side could put up a substantial score. The visitors have made one change, bringing in Cooper Connolly as they seek a strong finish to the tour.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Afridi was unfazed by losing the toss, stating that the wicket has not changed significantly and that his bowlers have a clear plan to keep Australia under pressure. The hosts have stuck with the same playing XI, showing faith in a combination that has performed well throughout the series.
Several players have caught the eye heading into the decider. Babar Azam appears to be rediscovering his touch, while young all-rounder Arafat Minhas has emerged as Pakistan’s breakout star after claiming a five-wicket haul on debut. Australia, meanwhile, will rely on the experience of players such as Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey and Cameron Green to guide them in a high-pressure contest.
Beyond the cricket, the match marks the farewell appearance of Chacha Cricket at Gaddafi Stadium. The iconic supporter has spent decades travelling the world to cheer for Pakistan and is expected to receive a warm send-off from the home crowd.
After weather concerns earlier in the day, conditions have improved considerably, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting and decisive finale between two competitive sides.
Match Statistics
Venue
Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
