Twitter Reactions: Pakistan win first ODI series in Australia in 22 years
Another inspirational performance from pacers helped Pakistan win the third ODI to bag the three-match series 2-1.
Mohammad Rizwan-led Pakistan beat world champions Australia in the third and final ODI at the Optus Stadium in Perth to win the series 2-1 on Sunday, November 10. This was Pakistan's first ODI series win in Australia since 2002.
Rizwan won the toss once again and he had no hesitation in opting to bowl first. Jake Fraser-McGurk perished early again and Aaron Hardie, who was promoted to No. 3, also departed cheaply. Stand-in captain Josh Inglis lost his wicket in the 11th over as the Pakistan pacers breathed fire on a spicy track.
Matthew Short struggled before being dismissed for 22 while Cooper Connolly had to go off after being hurt while facing Mohammad Hasnain. The experienced duo of Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell could not muster a fightback s Haris Rauf and Co. had their tails up.
The hosts had lost their first six wickets for just 88 in the 21st over. The Aussie batters did not apply themselves in the middle and failed to respect for conditions. Sean Abbott and Adam Zampa tried to delay the inevitable as they added a 30-run partnership off 39 balls. After Zampa departed for 13, Abbott added another 22 runs with Spencer Johnson.
Abbott's gritty 30 ended in the 32nd over as Australia slumped to 140/8. Lance Morris departed in the same over and Connolly could not come out to bat again as Pakistan needed only 141 for a win. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah bagged three wickets apiece, while Hasnain and Haris settled for two each.
Babar, Rizwan guide Pakistan to victory
Saim Ayub and Abdullah Shafique mixed caution with aggression and added a 84-run partnership off 104 balls for the first wicket to set things up nicely for the tourists. However, both of them wasted their starts as Lance Morris dismissed them in the same over. Ayub made 42 while Shafique departed for 37.
The talismanic duo of Rizwan and Babar Azam joined forces and they took Pakistan to victory with eight wickets and 23.1 overs to spare. While Rizwan finished unbeaten 30 off 27, Babar scored unbeaten 28 off 30.
Here's how 'X' users reacted to Pakistan's historic win:
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