Pakistan upstage Australia for 2-1 ODI series win

LAHORE: Spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan starred in Pakistan’s four-wicket win in the third and final one-day international in Lahore on Thursday.

Shaheen grabbed 3-30 to bundle Australia out for 157 while Shadab added a fighting 29 not out to his two wickets, helping Pakistan to the target in 41.5 overs.

The win gave Pakistan a 2-1 series win – their third successive ODI series win over Australia - after they won the first match by five wickers in Rawalpindi.

Australia won the second by 41 runs, also in Lahore.

Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann with a career best 3-38 – including Babar Azam’s wicket for top score of 40 – had given the visitors some hope for an unlikely win.

At 112-6, Pakistan were in a spot of bother but Shadab found an able partner in Abdul Samad as the duo added a match-winning 49 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand to seal the win.

Shadab’s second boundary sealed the win, while Samad’s 18 not out had one boundary.

Earlier, Shaheen was ably supported by Abrar Ahmed (2-19) and Shadab (2-28) as Australia’s innings folded in 42 overs after they won the toss and batted.

Spinners Abrar and Shadab built on Shaheen’s early strikes as Pakistan made a strong comeback after a disappointing loss in the second game.

Josh Inglis top-scored with a 71-ball 65 which included eight boundaries and a six, with Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey scoring 19 each and Adam Zampa making 10.

Shaheen had Matthew Short caught off the second ball of the match before Inglis added 46 for the second wicket with Labuschagne and another 52 for the third with Carey.

But Australia lost their last seven wickets for a meagre 38 runs with two run outs also hurting their innings.