The Pakistan team pose with their trophy after winning their one day international cricket match and series over Australia in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Pakistan won the deciding third one-day international by eight wickets on Sunday (November 10, 2024), achieving its first win over Australia in a 50-overs series in Australia since 2002.

Australia’s under-strength batting lineup folded in the face of hostile bowling from Pakistan’s pace attack and was all out for 140 in 31.5 overs.

The home team was without captain Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne, all of whom were rested to prepare for the first of five tests against India that begins in Perth on. Nov. 22.

Saim Ayub (42) and Abdullah Shafique (37) then gave Pakistan’s chase a solid foundation in an 84-run opening partnership before both fell in the same over, bowled by Lance Morris.

That left Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan to steer Pakistan to an important victory. The pair put on a further 58 for the third wicket before Babar ended the chase in the 27th over when he hit Adam Zampa for four to take Pakistan to 143-2.

Pakistan won with 139 balls to spare.

“This is a special moment for me because we know our nation will be happy,” Rizwan said. “They don’t always get what they expect from us as a team. Today we are happy as a team because our nation will be happy.”

The Pakistan pacemen have dominated the series since Australia won the opening match by two wickets in Melbourne. Pakistan leveled the series when it won the second match by nine wickets in Adelaide when Australia was bowled out for 163 with Haris Rauf taking 5-29.

As a result, Rizwan had no hesitation in choosing to bowl when the he won the toss Sunday. Naseem Shah dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk in the fourth over, Rauf dismissed Aaron Hardie in the seventh and Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Aidan Hardie in the 11th and from there Australian wickets fell at regular intervals.

Shaheen finished with 3-32, Naseem took 3-34 and Rauf took 2-24 from seven overs as Australia was bowled out for its lowest total at home in a decade.

The Australia batters looked particularly vulnerable against the short ball on a lively pitch and allrounder Cooper Connolly retired hurt on 7 after being struck in the hand by Mohammad Hasnain.

Fraser-McGurk and Short struggled for form in the first two matches, sharing partnerships of 19 in the first match and 21 in the second. They started positively this time, taking 12 runs from the first over but were separated with the total on 20 when Fraser-McGurk was caught at second slip by Rizwan from Naseem’s bowling.

Hardie reached 12 from 13 balls when he also edged to second slip from Shaheen, who caused a ball to nip away off the seam.

Josh Inglis captained Australia for the first time in his home town and came to the crease after learning he had been included in Australia’s 13-man squad for the first test against India. His celebrations were cut short when he skied an attempted pull off Naseem to Rizwan when on 7.

“It’s disappointing. We just didn’t get enough runs on the board,” Inglis said.

Short grafted his way to 22 from 30 balls and then picked out square leg from Rauf’s bowling when Australia was 72-4. Connolly retired hurt with the total on 79 and Glenn Maxwell also fell to Rauf on that total for a duck.

The rest followed in procession but for Sean Abbott who made a defiant 30 from 41 balls and had support from Spencer Johnson who finished 12 not out.

Sunday’s win was a major confidence boost to Pakistan as it prepares to host the ICC Champions Trophy tournament early next year.

Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel run between the wickets during the second day of the first cricket test match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on Thursday (August 22, 2024).
| Photo Credit: AP

Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel knocked brilliant centuries to guide Pakistan to an imposing 448-6 declared before Bangladesh closed the second day at 27-0 in Rawalpindi on Thursday (August 22, 2024).

Rizwan’s unbeaten 171 was his Test best and third century in the format, while Shakeel’s 141 was equally polished as the duo lifted Pakistan from a precarious 16-3 on Wednesday (August 21, 2024).

Bangladesh openers Shadman Islam was 12 and Zakir Hasan was 11, negotiating 12 overs of pace without any problem as the Rawalpindi stadium pitch has not assisted bowlers as predicted. Bangladesh batting coach David Hemp hoped his batters would match their opponents.

“It’s a pretty good batting pitch and we hope it continues like this,” said Hemp, a former Bermuda player.

“Our batters need to match Pakistan’s batters and we need to get closer to Pakistan’s total.”

Bangladesh had pushed Pakistan on the backfoot on day one but it was Shakeel who repaired the innings with Saim Ayub (56) through a 98-run fourth wicket stand before another 240 runs were added for the next with Rizwan as Pakistan blunted Bangladesh’s attack.

Rizwan, who hit three sixes and 11 boundaries in a 239-ball knock, added a quick 44 with Shaheen Shah Afridi who smacked two sixes and a boundary in a blistering 29 not out.

That allowed Pakistan to declare their first inning 78 minutes after tea. Shakeel said it was too early to give a verdict on the pitch.

“The ball was moving early on (Wednesday) but if you look at Bangladesh’s bowling they bowled short of length and had they pitched it up they would have got more success,” said Shakeel.

“Let our bowlers bowl tomorrow then we can have a final say on the pitch.”

Bangladesh failed to get a wicket in the first session, as Rizwan and Shakeel batted superbly to help Pakistan reach 256-4 at lunch. Off-spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz ended Bangladesh’s frustrating wait for the wicket, luring Shakeel out of the crease as wicketkeeper Litton Das removed the bails, ending a brilliant 261-ball knock.

Shakeel also scored his third Test century and hit nine boundaries.

Shakeel also survived a freakish run out attempt on 138 when he stepped out of his crease while leaving paceman Hasan Mahmud’s delivery, but made it back as Das hit the stumps. Agha Salman made 19.

Pacers Hasan Mahmud (2-70) and Shoriful Islam (2-77) were the pick of Bangladesh bowlers, while Miraz and Shakib Al Hasan grabbed a wicket each.

Resuming at 158-4, Shakeel and Rizwan added 98 runs in an extended two-hour and 15-minute morning session after play on the first day was delayed by a wet outfield.

Looking for early wickets, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto used all his bowlers but none could replicate the success achieved on day one.

The two-match series is part of the World Test Championship’s third cycle, with Pakistan currently sixth and Bangladesh eighth on the nine-team table.