Pakistan swept to an eight-wicket victory Sunday, their first One-Day International (ODI) series triumph in Australia in twenty-two years, thanks to 42 from Saim Ayub and 37 from Abdullah Shafique.
In the 27th over at Perth Stadium, Mohammad Rizwan’s squad reached their target after bowling out the miserable world champions for a pitiful 140.
With the help of excellent bowling from Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Haris Rauf, the outstanding effort secured Australia’s first ODI series victory since 2002.
They lost by two wickets in a close opening encounter in Melbourne, but they recovered to win by a commanding nine wickets in Adelaide.
As an undermanned Australia gave Pakistan just 141 runs to win, Naseem and Shaheen each took three wickets.
After winning the toss, captain Muhammad Rizwan sent the hosts to bat first.
They were defeated by a superb onslaught spearheaded by Naseem (3-54) and Shaheen (3-32) with assistance from Haris (2-24).
Before they were bowled out for just 140 in the 32nd over, Sean Abbott had the highest score of 30.
In addition to pace trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, who are being rested in preparation for the Test series against India, Australia was without Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
Desperate for runs after failing to make an impression at Melbourne and Adelaide, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short began the batting for the third straight game.
Fraser-McGurk, however, failed once more on a field that was favored for quick bowlers, nicking a swinging Shah delivery to wicketkeeper Rizwan on seven.
After Smith was moved up to number three, Aaron Hardie was caught at slip off the dangerous Afridi after he had gone 13 balls for his 12.
Josh Inglis, the replacement captain, came to the crease as a result, but he too left cheaply for seven after skying a bouncer from Shah that Rizwan caught to leave Australia at 56-3 in the eleventh over.
Short (22) was next dismissed by Rauf, who had taken 5-29 in Adelaide, before young Cooper Connolly had to depart injured on seven following a brutal knock to his hand in just his second ODI.
Australia faltered to 88-6 in the 21st over, with Marcus Stoinis adding just eight runs to the total. The out-of-form Glenn Maxwell only survived two balls before Rauf bagged him for the third time in this series, caught at point by Saim Ayub.
Before the tail was picked up, Abbott and Adam Zampa (13) had a useful 30-run combination.
