By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Shaheen Afridi (3-30) led from the front and was equally assisted by spinners Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan with two wickets apiece as Pakistan folded Australia for 157 in the third and final ODI of the bilateral series at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Skipper Josh Inglis (65) was the only batsman who left an impression. At one stage Australia were 98-2 and they lost their eight wickets inside 59 runs which handed Pakistan a great opportunity to seal the series.
After opting to bat first Australia had a poor start. Shaheen Afridi once again struck early when he got rid of Matt Short (0) off the second ball of the innings. Marnus Labuchagne joined skipper Josh Inglis who had promoted himself in place of Alex Carey in the batting order to open the innings with Short.
The due batted carefully in a bid to build the base. They added 46 runs for the second wicket before Labuchagne got run out for 19. He hit two fours in his 39-ball knock.
Alex Carey then went out and he gave ample support to Inglis to stabilize the innings by sharing 52 crucial runs for the third wicket association. However it was paceman Haris Rauf who bowled Carey to leave Australia at 98-3 in the 23rd over.
Carey hit one four in his 32-ball 19. Even at this stage Australia were placed comfortably. But the tide tilted in favour of Pakistan when skipper Shaheen Afridi removed well-set Inglis (65) and Cameron Green (7) in a single over to dent Australia’s decent total chances.
Inglis, who had relocated to Australia as a 14-year old child, was held by Sahibzada Farhan inside the circle while Babar Azam caught Green at short mid-on and now Australia were reeling at 120-5 in the 27th over.
Inglis completed his sixth ODI fifty and second successive of the series off 56 balls. He managed one six and eight fours in his responsible 71-ball 65.
Australia kept losing wickets. Abrar Ahmed removed Matt Renshaw (4) and Cooper Connolly (3) in quick succession to leave the visitors gasping at 131-7 in the 32nd over.
Shadab Khan then had Oliver Peake (7), held by keeper Ghazi Ghori, to add to Australia’s misery. Peake hit one four during his 13-ball stay at the crease. This was also Shadab’s first wicket in the series.
Shadab then bowled Zampa (10) before Nathan Ellis (1) got run out as the visitors were skittled out for 157 in 42 overs.
This is also the lowest total from Australia against Pakistan on Pakistan’s soil. Their previous lowest were 170-9 which they had accumulated in 1982 at the Niaz Stadium Hyderabad.
Shaheen Afridi bowled extremely well. He used the conditions well as after a thunderstorm wind was blowing across the ground. He finished with 3-30 in eight overs. Abrar Ahmed (2-19 in 10) and Shadab Khan (2-28 in 9) also ably backed their skipper.
Pakistan’s Maaz Sadaqat received head injury while fielding on the boundary and he was taken off the field in the 11th over.
