Pacers set up Pakistan's stunning series win

Pakistan's pace attack proved to be too hot to handle for Australia again as the visitors overturned a 1-0 deficit to clinch the ODI series 2-1. Having crumbled to just 163 in the second ODI, Australia's poor show with the bat continued in the decider too where they were shot out for just 140. Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique then looked in great touch yet again as their opening partnership set up Pakistan's 8-wicket win that has given them a series win in Australia after 22 years.

After being sent into bat, Australia made a poor start as Jake Fraser-McGurk's poor run in the series continued with the swashbuckling opener departing for just 7. Aaron Hardie then failed to make the most of his promotion to No. 3 as he was prized out by Shaheen Afridi. Australia would have still backed themselves to get out of the rut having raced to 54/2 by the end of the 10th over. However, Naseem changed ends to get rid of Josh Inglis and Matthew Short hit one straight to the fielder at the deep as one setback after another hurt Australia big time.

Cooper Connolly walked off the field after getting hit on the glove and Glenn Maxwell registered his second duck of the series with Haris Rauf being his tormentor again. Australia's hopes of posting a fighting total started to fade when Marcus Stoinis departed for a 25-ball 8, following which Sean Abbott and Adam Zampa dragged them past 100. Shaheen then put an end to Australia's misery by picking the last two wickets in the space of three deliveries which meant Australia failed to bat out their 50 overs for the second straight game.

Contrary to Australia's start, Pakistan's openers looked assured as the script looked very similar to that of the second ODI. Stoinis bowled a tight spell with the new ball to keep Pakistan quiet in the initial overs but Shafique broke free with a six once Abbott came into the attack. Ayub smashed a six as well in Abbott's next over as Pakistan knocked off 47 runs in the first 10 overs.

Abbott's off-colour outing continued as the two openers picked him apart despite not taking risks against the other bowlers. Finally, it was Lance Morris who broke through for Australia as he dismissed both the openers in the same over. But with Pakistan needing less than 60 at that stage, there was no cause for concern as the experienced duo of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan got the job done in style to seal a memorable win with more than 23 overs to spare.

Brief scores: Australia 140 in 31.5 overs (Sean Abbott 30; Shaheen Afridi 3/32, Naseem Shah 3/54) lost to Pakistan 143/2 in 26.5 overs (Saim Ayub 42, Abdullah Shafique 37; Lance Morris 2/24) by 8 wickets