Under the blazing Western Australian sun at Perth Stadium, the Pakistan national cricket team dismantled two decades of overseas frustration, overpowering reigning world champions Australia by eight wickets in the deciding third One-Day International to seal an unforgettable 2-1 series victory. Spearheaded by a hostile display of raw fast bowling from Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah, the tourists skittled the hosts for a paltry 140 inside 32 overs before cantering home with 139 balls to spare.
The triumph marks Pakistan's first bilateral ODI series win Down Under in 22 years, echoing the historic 2002 triumph under Waqar Younis. Newly appointed white-ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan enjoyed a dream maiden assignment, engineering one of Pakistan's most disciplined overseas campaigns. Cricket followers dissecting this tactical clinic can check full scores on our recent match results board and explore what lies ahead on our upcoming cricket fixtures schedule.
Morning Carnage: Pakistan Pace Battery Rips Through Optus Stadium
Having won the toss on a greenish drop-in surface offering vicious bounce, Rizwan inserted the hosts without hesitation. With Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith, and Marnus Labuschagne rested ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia's batting order crumbled under sustained seam interrogation.
Shaheen Afridi struck the initial blow in the fourth over, extracting sharp lifter that hurried Jake Fraser-McGurk (7), who steered a faint edge through to Rizwan. Naseem Shah then dismantled Aaron Hardie (12) with a 142 kph delivery angling across the right-hander, finding the shoulder of the bat straight to second slip where Salman Ali Agha took a sharp low catch.
The decisive blow came from Haris Rauf. Operating with furious velocity exceeding 146 kph, Rauf targeted the ribs of stand-in skipper Josh Inglis (7), forcing a top-edged miscue that ballooned gently into Rizwan's gloves. Two balls later, Rauf unleashed a thunderbolt that squared up Glenn Maxwell for a four-ball duck, slicing an aerial edge to backward point. Australia plummeted from 36 for 1 to 79 for 6 in just 18 deliveries according to ESPNcricinfo ball-by-ball archives.
Abbott and Zampa Fight Back Before Tail Folds
All-rounder Sean Abbott (30 off 41 balls) and spinner Adam Zampa (22 off 22 balls) mounted a stubborn 30-run counter-attack to push Australia past three figures. Abbott showed courage against the rising ball, punching Naseem through cover and pulling Mohammad Hasnain for boundaries.
Yet Pakistan's quicks refused to relent. Naseem returned to castle Abbott with an immaculate off-stump yorker, before Shaheen wiped out the tail by bowling Will Sutherland and Lance Morris. Australia were bundled out for 140 in 31.5 overs according to ICC Match Center records—their lowest completed ODI total against Pakistan on home soil since 2017. Shaheen took 3 for 32, Naseem claimed 3 for 54, while Rauf conceded only 24 runs for his two vital scalps.
The Chase: Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique Provide Solid Platform
Chasing 141 to capture the silverware, Pakistan openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique blunted the new ball with textbook composure. Ayub, fresh from his electric 82 in Adelaide, unleashed his trademark no-look flick off Morris over deep square leg for six, adding three driven fours through cover off Marcus Stoinis. Shafique rotated strike calmly to forge an 84-run opening stand.
Though Morris produced a double-strike in the 18th over—dismissing Shafique for 37 caught-and-bowled and having Ayub dragged on for 42—the match was already firmly within Pakistan's grasp.
Babar and Rizwan Seal the Historic Victory
Former captain Babar Azam joined Rizwan to guide Pakistan over the finish line. Babar leaned into exquisite cover drives against Stoinis and Zampa to finish unbeaten on 28 off 30 deliveries. Rizwan was equally authoritative, lofting Zampa over long-on before finishing the match in style. Facing Stoinis in the 27th over, Rizwan hooked a short ball into the stands for a huge six to seal victory at 143 for 2 in 26.5 overs, sparking euphoric celebrations in the Perth crowd.
Scorecard Summary: Australia vs Pakistan 3rd ODI, Perth
The statistical overview below summarizes the deciding ODI verified against Cricbuzz data:
| Team / Player | Performance Summary | Match Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (1st Innings) | 140 all out in 31.5 overs (Run Rate: 4.39) | Lowest ODI total vs PAK at home since 2017 |
| Sean Abbott | 30 runs (41 balls, 2x4, 1x6) | Australia's highest run scorer |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 8.5 overs, 1 maiden, 32 runs, 3 wickets | Economy: 3.62; Cleared lower order |
| Naseem Shah | 9.0 overs, 0 maidens, 54 runs, 3 wickets | Economy: 6.00; Key top-order strikes |
| Haris Rauf | 7.0 overs, 0 maidens, 24 runs, 2 wickets | Player of the Match & Series (10 wkts) |
| Pakistan (2nd Innings) | 143/2 in 26.5 overs (Run Rate: 5.32) | Won by 8 wickets with 139 balls remaining |
| Saim Ayub | 42 runs (52 balls, 4x4, 1x6, SR: 80.76) | Catalyst for 84-run opening alliance |
| Abdullah Shafique | 37 runs (53 balls, 3x4, 1x6, SR: 69.81) | Solid opening anchor |
| Mohammad Rizwan & Babar Azam | Rizwan 30* (27), Babar 28* (30) | Unbroken 59-run 3rd wicket partnership |
Tactical Analysis: How Pakistan Won Down Under
Pakistan's series conquest hinged on three key tactical factors:
- Hard Deck Enforcer Bowling: Haris Rauf consistently hit hard lengths between 7 and 9 meters at 145 kph, leaving Australia's batters hurried and unable to execute back-foot pulls.
- Disciplined Off-Stump Probing: Shaheen and Naseem maintained probing fourth-stump lines, generating seam deviation without offering scoring width.
- Top-Order Opening Composure: Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique neutralized Australia's new-ball attack across all three matches, allowing the middle order to bat with freedom.
Player of the Series Haris Rauf reflected: "Bowling in Australia gives great carry if you hit the right areas. Our bowling group planned meticulously with Jason Gillespie and captain Rizwan. Winning here after 22 years is a dream come true for our nation."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When did Pakistan last win an ODI series against Australia in Australia?
Prior to this 2-1 triumph in November 2024, Pakistan's last bilateral ODI series victory on Australian soil came 22 years earlier in 2002, when Waqar Younis captained the side to a 2-1 win over Ricky Ponting's Australia.
Who was named Player of the Series in the 2024 Australia vs Pakistan ODI series?
Haris Rauf was crowned Player of the Series after capturing 10 wickets in three matches at an extraordinary average of 12.00, consistently troubling Australia's top order with express pace.
What was the final score of the 3rd ODI at Perth Stadium?
Australia were bowled out for 140 in 31.5 overs. Pakistan chased down the target effortlessly, reaching 143 for 2 in 26.5 overs to win by eight wickets with 139 balls remaining.
Who scored the winning runs for Pakistan in the series decider?
Captain Mohammad Rizwan (30* off 27 balls) and Babar Azam (28* off 30 balls) shared an unbroken 59-run stand, with Rizwan pulling Marcus Stoinis for six to seal the historic triumph.
