Shadab Khan starred with both bat and ball as Pakistan secured a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Australia in the third and final ODI of the home series at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
The victory meant Pakistan clinched the three-match series 2-1, and it marked their third consecutive triumph against the six-time champions in the format.
The Green Shirts got off to a shaky start to the pursuit as they lost right-handed opener Sahibzada Farhan (six) in the third over with 27 runs on the board.
Following the early stutter, Maaz Sadaqat, who dominated the opening stand, then shared a brief 14-run partnership for the second wicket with Babar Azam until being trapped lbw by Matthew Short in the eighth over.
The left-handed opener remained a notable run-getter for Pakistan with a brisk 27 off 26 deliveries, laced with five fours.
Babar then took the reins of Pakistan’s run chase and raised crucial partnerships with the middle-order trio of Ghazi Ghori (eight), Salman Ali Agha (15) and Arafat Minhas, until eventually falling victim to Matthew Kuhneman in the 30th over.
The 31-year-old remained the top-scorer for the home side with an anchoring 40 off 84 deliveries with the help of three fours.
Pakistan then suffered another blow to their pursuit as Matt Renshaw got all-rounder Minhas (nine) caught at slip, bringing down the total to 112/6.
But experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan and middle-order batter Abdul Samad batted sensibly after the back-to-back blows and eventually led Pakistan to a hard-earned victory in the 42nd over by stitching an unbeaten 49-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Shadab remained unbeaten on 29 off 42 deliveries, while Samad contributed with 18 not out from 30 balls. Kuhnemann was the pick of the bowlers for Australia as he bagged three wickets for 38 runs in his 10 overs, while Nathan Ellis, Short and Renshaw could claim one apiece. Australia captain Josh Inglis’s decision to bat first backfired as the visitors could accumulate 157 before getting bowled out in 42 overs.
The touring side got off to a dismal start to their innings as Shaheen dismissed their opener Matthew Short (zero) on just the second delivery. Following the early stutter, Marnus Labuschagne (19) joined captain Josh Inglis in the middle, and the duo batted cautiously to put together 46 runs until the former was run out in the 12th over, courtesy of a direct hit by Arafat Minhas.
Inglis then shared a 52-run partnership for the third wicket with fellow wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey, who could muster 19 before falling victim to Haris Rauf in the 22nd over.
The Australia captain was eventually sent back by Pakistan counterpart Shaheen in the 27th over, during which the left-arm pacer also got rid of all-rounder Cameron Green (seven) as the touring side slipped to 120/5.
Inglis remained the top-scorer for Australia with a gritty 65 off 71 deliveries with the help of eight fours and a six.
Australia then lost two more wickets in quick succession as Abrar Ahmed dismissed Matt Renshaw (four) and Cooper Connolly (three) in his successive overs, while experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan ended his wickets drought in ODIs by dismissing Oliver Peake in the 35th over. Shadab struck again on the second delivery of the 42nd over, cleaning up Adam Zampa (10), while Matthew Kuhnemann’s run-out in the same over ended Australia’s woeful outing with the bat. Shaheen spearheaded Pakistan’s bowling charge with economical figures of 3/30 in eight overs, followed by Shadab and Abrar with two each, while Rauf chipped in with one scalp.