PAK vs AUS, 3rd ODI: Josh Inglis’ fighting half-century went in vain as Australia failed to cope with Pakistan’s pace and spin att...
PAK vs AUS, 3rd ODI: Josh Inglis’ fighting half-century went in vain as Australia failed to cope with Pakistan’s pace and spin attack, suffering a four-wicket defeat in the third ODI and conceding the series 2-1 on Thursday.
After opting to bat, Australia looked set for a competitive total with Inglis scoring 65 off 71 balls and sharing useful stands with Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey. However, the visitors suffered another dramatic collapse, losing their final seven wickets for only 38 runs to be bowled out for 157 in 42 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi starred with the ball, claiming 3-30 with both the new and old ball, while Abrar Ahmed returned 2-19 and Shadab Khan ended a five-match wicketless streak in ODIs with 2-28. Haris Rauf also played a crucial role by removing Carey and triggering the collapse.
Australia’s bowlers threatened to pull off an unlikely win on a surface offering considerable assistance to spin. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann struck three times, including the prized wicket of Babar Azam, who top-scored with a patient 40 off 84 balls. Pakistan slipped to 112-6 before Shadab and Abdul Samad combined for an unbeaten 49-run partnership.
Shadab finished on 29 not out, with Samad unbeaten on 18, as Pakistan reached 161/6 in 41.5 overs. Australian captain Josh Inglis admitted his side had left itself short once again.
“A bit like the first game, we were just too many runs short,” Inglis said after Australia’s batting struggles proved costly.
After opting to bat, Australia looked set for a competitive total with Inglis scoring 65 off 71 balls and sharing useful stands with Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey. However, the visitors suffered another dramatic collapse, losing their final seven wickets for only 38 runs to be bowled out for 157 in 42 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi starred with the ball, claiming 3-30 with both the new and old ball, while Abrar Ahmed returned 2-19 and Shadab Khan ended a five-match wicketless streak in ODIs with 2-28. Haris Rauf also played a crucial role by removing Carey and triggering the collapse.
Australia’s bowlers threatened to pull off an unlikely win on a surface offering considerable assistance to spin. Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann struck three times, including the prized wicket of Babar Azam, who top-scored with a patient 40 off 84 balls. Pakistan slipped to 112-6 before Shadab and Abdul Samad combined for an unbeaten 49-run partnership.
Shadab finished on 29 not out, with Samad unbeaten on 18, as Pakistan reached 161/6 in 41.5 overs. Australian captain Josh Inglis admitted his side had left itself short once again.
“A bit like the first game, we were just too many runs short,” Inglis said after Australia’s batting struggles proved costly.