Pakistan Crush Australia in Perth to Seal Historic 2-1 Series Victory
Pakistan dismantled Australia for 140 in Perth to cruise to an 8-wicket win, clinching their first bilateral ODI series on Australian soil in 22 years.
In a historic and utterly commanding display of raw fast bowling, clinical fielding, and composed batsmanship, Pakistan emphatically dismantled Australia by eight wickets in the third One-Day International at Optus Stadium in Perth. The resounding triumph sealed a memorable 2-1 series victory, marking Pakistan's first bilateral ODI series triumph on Australian soil in 22 long years—a drought stretching back to 2002 under the legendary captaincy of Waqar Younis.
Hostile Pace Sinks Australia for 140
Having elected to bowl first on a hard, bouncy Perth wicket with lingering morning moisture, newly minted white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan unleashed his formidable four-man pace cartel. What followed was a breathtaking demonstration of high-octane seam bowling that left Australia's reshuffled batting lineup without answers.
Left-arm spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone with lethal opening overs, extracting steep bounce from just short of a good length. Shaheen removed Jake Fraser-McGurk (7) with an unplayable delivery that took the outside edge, before trapping dynamic opener Matt Short (22) with a vicious, skidding inswinger.
Operating in tandem, 21-year-old prodigy Naseem Shah delivered a masterclass in probing fourth-stump line bowling. Naseem had stand-in Australian captain Josh Inglis (7) caught on the pull, before inducing a mistimed drive from Marcus Stoinis (8). Naseem finished with sensational figures of 3 for 54 in nine overs.
| Pakistan Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 8.5 | 1 | 32 | 3 | 3.62 |
| Naseem Shah | 9.0 | 0 | 54 | 3 | 6.00 |
| Haris Rauf | 7.0 | 0 | 24 | 2 | 3.42 |
| Mohammad Hasnain | 7.0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 3.42 |
Haris Rauf: The Speed Demon Named Player of Series
The standout performer of the entire tour, express speedster Haris Rauf, reaffirmed his status as arguably the most lethal middle-overs enforcer in modern ODI cricket. Rauf consistently touched speeds exceeding 146 km/h, hurrying Australia's premier batsmen with heavy, bruising deliveries into the pitch.
Rauf accounted for Marnus Labuschagne (8), finding the shoulder of the bat with extreme lifter, and then dismissed dangerous power-hitter Glenn Maxwell for a two-ball duck with an unplayable scorcher. Across the three matches, Rauf collected a staggering 10 wickets at an astonishing average of just 12.00, earning both Player of the Match and Player of the Series accolades.
"Bowling in Australia is always a dream for every fast bowler because of the pace and bounce. We discussed our plans as a pace group, bowled in partnerships, and executed our plans to perfection. This series win means everything to the people of Pakistan."
Australia was eventually bundled out for a meager 140 in 31.5 overs. Sean Abbott provided lone resistance with a gritty 30 off 41 balls, while Adam Zampa chipped in with 22, but the world champions were thoroughly outclassed by Pakistan's ferocious pace quartet.
Clinical Run Chase: Ayub & Shafique Lay the Foundation
Chasing a modest target of 141 for historic glory, Pakistan openers Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique displayed supreme technical authority and aggressive intent. Rather than retreating into a defensive shell against the pace of Lance Morris and Spencer Johnson, the Pakistani duo seized the initiative.
Saim Ayub, fresh off an explosive match-winning 82 in the Adelaide ODI, stroked 42 off 52 balls, decorated with four exquisite boundaries and a nonchalant pick-up six over deep backward square leg. Abdullah Shafique mirrored his partner's composure, compiling a disciplined 37 off 53 deliveries. Together, they forged an authoritative 84-run opening alliance in 17 overs that broke the back of the pursuit.
Babar and Rizwan Apply the Finishing Touches
Although express pacer Lance Morris briefly sparked hope for Australia by dismissing both openers in the 18th over, star batter Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan ensured there was zero room for drama. Babar played with trademark elegance, stroking four boundaries in an unbeaten 28 off 30 deliveries, while Rizwan dazzled the vocal expatriate Pakistani crowd with two colossal sixes in his 30 not out off 27 balls.
Rizwan sealed the historic victory in style in the 27th over with 139 deliveries remaining, triggering jubilant celebrations in the visiting dugout and among thousands of passionate green-shirted supporters across Optus Stadium.
Historical Milestone: 22-Year Drought Broken
Pakistan's previous ODI bilateral series victory on Australian soil had come in June 2002 under the leadership of Waqar Younis, when a pace attack featuring Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar secured a 2-1 triumph. In the intervening two decades, Australian soil had proved an impregnable fortress for touring Asian sides. By rebounding from a narrow two-wicket loss in the Melbourne opener to win emphatically in Adelaide and Perth, Rizwan's men have etched their names into the golden annals of Pakistan Cricket.
| Match Details & Milestones | Statistical Summary |
|---|---|
| Match Result | Pakistan won by 8 wickets (with 139 balls remaining) |
| Series Scoreline | Pakistan won 3-match ODI series 2-1 |
| First Series Win in Australia | First bilateral ODI series win since June 2002 (22 years) |
| Australia Innings | 140 all out in 31.5 overs (Abbott 30, Shaheen 3/32, Naseem 3/54) |
| Pakistan Innings | 143/2 in 26.5 overs (Saim 42, Shafique 37, Rizwan 30*, Babar 28*) |
| Player of the Series | Haris Rauf (10 wickets, Average 12.00, Economy 4.32) |
Tactical Blueprint for ICC Champions Trophy
The tactical dividends of this historic series win are immense. Under the newly appointed white-ball leadership tandem of Mohammad Rizwan and head coach Jason Gillespie, Pakistan displayed disciplined bowling plans, sharper fielding standards, and mature top-order approaches. With the ICC Champions Trophy on the horizon, this dominant series victory provides Pakistan with immense self-belief and momentum.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When was the last time Pakistan won an ODI series in Australia?
Prior to this historic victory, Pakistan last won a bilateral ODI series in Australia 22 years ago in June 2002 under the captaincy of Waqar Younis.
Who was awarded Player of the Series in the 2024 Pakistan vs Australia ODI series?
Pakistani fast bowler Haris Rauf was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series after claiming 10 wickets at an extraordinary average of 12.00 across the three matches.
What was the final score in the 3rd ODI in Perth?
Australia was bowled out for 140 in 31.5 overs, and Pakistan chased down the target effortlessly, scoring 143 for 2 in 26.5 overs to win by 8 wickets.
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