Australia crumble again with bat to fold for 140

The Pakistan pace continued to torment Australia in the ODI series as delivered in the final game as well to put their side on the brink of a rare series win on these shores. Having struggled throughout the series, Australia were put under the pump again, losing half their side with just 79 on the board. Eventually, they finished with only 140 with more than 18 overs left in the innings.

With a hint of luck, Australia raced to 18/0 after just two overs but it didn’t take long for Pakistan to strike. Jake Fraser-McGurk’s poor series continued as he edged Naseem Shah behind to depart for just 7. Promoted to No.3, Aaron Hardie did play a couple of delightful shots but his indecisiveness against Shaheen Afridi cost him his wicket before he could kick on. Australia were still decently placed at 54/2 after the first ten overs but Naseem changing works paid off as Josh Inglis only managed a top edge while attempting a pull.

Matthew Short then timed one straight to the fielder stationed at the deepto add to Australia’s woes as Haris Rauf opened his account. There was one setback after another in store for the hosts as Cooper Connolly got stuck on his glove and walked off the field, only to never return in the innings. Glenn Maxwell, desperately in need of runs, was dismissed again by his tormenter Rauf for another duck to effectively reduce Australia to 79/6.

With Marcus Stoinis also departing for a scratchy 25-ball 8, Australia reached a point of no return with the Pakistan pacers breathing fire. Adam Zampa and Sean Abbott dragged them past the three-figure mark but the writing was always on the wall. A six from Abbott saw them reach 140 but Shaheen then put an end to the home side’s misery with two wickets in the space of three deliveries.

Brief scores: Australia 140 in 31.5 overs (Sean Abbott 30; Shaheen Afridi 3/32, Naseem Shah 3/54) vs Pakistan