Pakistan claimed their first ODI series win against Australia in 22 years and although they lost the opening match of the series, they rebounded back and win the series 2-1 by winning the next two matches including the final match held on Sunday 10 November 2024 in Perth.
For Pakistan it was already a remarkable month as they took the win over England for a Test series on home soil and now the triumph over Australia on their own turf, etching their name in cricket history.
These recent victories played a major role as a spirit booster for Pakistan prior to a troublesome performance in the last two Men’s World Cup.
With both teams attaining a win each, the last match of the series was an enticing nail biter; Pakistan won the toss and put Australia to bat, who ended up struggling against the Men in Green’s pacing storm.
Shaheen Shah Afridi led the fast bowling attack alongside Naseem Shah, each taking three wickets with Haris Rauf adding two more, while Mohammad Hasnain contributed a wicket. Australia, trying to counter the attack, struggled, crumbling to 140 all out in 31.5 overs with the highest run being 30, by Sean Abbott.
Pakistan’s openers Saim Ayub (42) and Abdullah Shafique (37) acquired a great 84-run partnership, a strong start. Despite Australian pacer Lance Morris dismissing both openers, captain Mohammad Rizwan (30) and Babar Azam (28) comfortably took charge and eased Pakistan into an electrifying eight-wicket victory in 26.5 overs.
Rizwan praised the team for their outstanding performances, saying that this victory was a landmark moment for Pakistan cricket. After taking 10 wickets in three games, Haris Rauf was named Player of the Series as well as Player of the Match. Saim Ayub, who scored a game-winning 82 in the second ODI, was the series’ highest run scorer.
Josh Inglis, the interim captain for Australia, acknowledged their poor play, especially in the batting department.
In addition to ending Pakistan’s two-decade drought, this historic series victory demonstrates the strength and depth of their team, the resilience of the Pakistanis’ and paves the way for a bright future in international cricket.
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