Lahore, June 5, 2026: Pakistan secured a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Australia in the third and final One-Day International at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday, sealing the three-match series 2-1 and registering their third consecutive ODI win over the six-time world champions.
All-rounder Shadab Khan starred with both ball and bat, claiming economical figures of 2/28 before guiding Pakistan’s chase with an unbeaten 29-run knock to steer the hosts home in the 42nd over.
Chasing a modest target of 158, Pakistan endured a shaky start and found themselves under pressure at several stages before Shadab and Abdul Samad combined in an unbeaten seventh-wicket partnership to secure the series-clinching victory.
Pakistan lost opener Sahibzada Farhan for six in the third over with the score on 27. Young opener Maaz Sadaqat played an aggressive hand, scoring 27 off 26 deliveries, including five boundaries, before being trapped leg-before by Matthew Short in the eighth over.
Former captain Babar Azam then anchored the innings with a patient 40 off 84 balls. He added useful partnerships with Ghazi Ghori (8), Salman Ali Agha (15) and Arafat Minhas (9) to keep Pakistan’s chase on track. However, his dismissal in the 30th over by Matthew Kuhnemann left the hosts vulnerable.
Pakistan suffered another setback when Arafat Minhas was caught at slip off Matt Renshaw, reducing the hosts to 112/6 and giving Australia a glimmer of hope.
Shadab Khan and Abdul Samad, however, showed composure under pressure, adding an unbeaten 49 runs for the seventh wicket to take Pakistan over the line. Shadab remained unbeaten on 29 from 42 deliveries, while Samad contributed a valuable 18 not out off 30 balls.
For Australia, left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann was the standout bowler, claiming 3/38 in his 10 overs. Nathan Ellis, Matthew Short and Matt Renshaw picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, Australia’s decision to bat first after winning the toss backfired as Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack dismissed the visitors for just 157 in 42 overs.
The tourists made a disastrous start when Shaheen Shah Afridi removed opener Matthew Short for a duck with only the second ball of the innings.
Captain Josh Inglis attempted to rebuild the innings alongside Marnus Labuschagne, who scored 19 before being run out by a direct hit from Arafat Minhas. Inglis then added 52 runs with Alex Carey for the third wicket, but Pakistan’s bowlers continued to strike at regular intervals.
Carey made 19 before falling to Haris Rauf, while Shaheen returned to dismiss both Inglis and Cameron Green in the same over, reducing Australia to 120/5.
Inglis remained Australia’s top scorer with a determined 65 off 71 deliveries, hitting eight fours and a six.
Pakistan’s spinners then tightened their grip on the match. Abrar Ahmed dismissed Matt Renshaw and Cooper Connolly in successive overs, while Shadab Khan ended his ODI wicket drought by removing Oliver Peake before later clean bowling Adam Zampa. Kuhnemann was run out as Australia were eventually bowled out for 157.
Shaheen led Pakistan’s bowling effort with figures of 3/30 in eight overs, while Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed claimed two wickets each. Haris Rauf chipped in with one wicket.
The victory handed Pakistan a 2-1 series triumph and highlighted the growing effectiveness of their pace-spin combination and middle-order resilience ahead of upcoming international assignments.
