PAK vs AUS Highlights, 3rd ODI: Pakistan beat Australia by 4 wickets, win series 2-1

Curtains down on this series - And with that, it's time to wrap things up from this game and the series as well. Pakistan take the honours with a 2-1 victory, and the trophy is now in the hands of skipper Shaheen Afridi, who joins his teammates in lifting it aloft and posing for pictures behind the Winner’s banner. Australia's next assignment is just around the corner as they travel to Bangladesh for a three-match ODI series starting on June 9, while Pakistan take a short break before switching their focus to red-ball cricket, with two Tests against West Indies in the Caribbean, beginning on July 25. There's plenty of cricket happening elsewhere too, with England taking on New Zealand in the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy and West Indies locking horns with Sri Lanka in ODI cricket, among several other contests around the world. Until next time, cheers and goodbye!

The captain of Australia -  Josh Inglis starts off saying that they were too many runs short, just like the first game of the series. However, he brings the spotlight on the effort of bowlers and the fielding group to put themselves in a position where they could win the game but it just didn't work for them. Inglis mentions that the young players have performed well for the side and he is happy about it. About their upcoming series in Bangladesh, he says that the team will surely try to rectify their mistakes and would like to get better results in Bangladesh.

PLAYER OF THE SERIES - The youngster, Arafat Minhas, who made his ODI debut in this series, wins the award for his all-round effort. He made 60 runs and picked up 7 wickets in 3 matches. Minhas says that he is happy with the series win, and he is happy with the team's enthusiasm. He adds that they always prepare with a positive mindset, and that is very important. Arafat shares that this is a good platform to gain confidence and ends by saying that they will keep on giving their best always.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - The victorious skipper of Pakistan, Shaheen Afridi, wins the award for his excellent bowling spell of 3/30(8). Afridi says that it was a team effort throughout the series. Adds that it was a difficult track for the batters, and their batters did really well. He says that they need to adapt to the conditions and it was a great series. Shaheen reckons that they were happy to restrict Australia to a low total and the credit goes to their bowlers. He ends by saying that he always keeps on giving his best, and the rest follows.

Presentation Time...

Australia's bowlers show fight despite defeat - Australia should be proud of the way they bowled, but to be honest, they just did not have enough runs on the board. Nathan Ellis set the tone with an early wicket, while Matthew Short followed to push the hosts onto the back foot. However, it was Matthew Kuhnemann who spun a web around the batters with a fantastic three-wicket haul, including the big wicket of Babar, which gave them a glimmer of hope and could have been more damaging had a few close calls gone his way, otherwise, the result might have been even tighter. Adam Zampa went wicketless despite being economical, but he needed breakthroughs to give Australia a better chance in this decider.

Inglis fights a lone battle - Earlier in the game, Australia were bowled out for a meagre 157 in this series decider, losing their last seven wickets for just 38 runs. Only skipper Josh Inglis offered any real resistance with a gritty 65 off 71 balls, but beyond that, it was a sorry-looking scorecard, with as many as seven batters falling in single digits and no one else even crossing 20, which says it all. Pakistan were all over the Aussies, with skipper Shaheen Afridi leading from the front with a fine three-wicket haul. Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan picked up a couple each, while Haris Rauf chipped in with one, and a couple of run-outs capped off an all-round effort in the field.

Men in Green overcome pressure to get home - Pakistan made a steady start to the chase, but Sahibzada Farhan's brief stay halted early momentum. Maaz Sadaqat showed intent with a few fluent strokes, yet he couldn't convert his start into a meaningful score. Through the innings, Babar Azam held things together with calm authority in testing, slow conditions, anchoring one end while wickets continued to tumble around him. Just as he looked set to guide Pakistan closer, he too fell to a delivery that had his name written all over it, his 40 off 84 balls taking the chase deep but still leaving work to be done. With pressure mounting, Abdul Samad and Shadab Khan rose to the occasion, showing great composure to stitch together a crucial unbeaten 49-run stand and finish the job in style.

Pakistan continue ODI dominance over Aussies - Pakistan make it a hat-trick of 2-1 ODI series wins over Australia, one away and two at home. Chasing what looked like a modest target at the break, it would have been easy to expect a walk in the park for the Men in Green. However, Australia pushed them all the way with a spirited fight, showing real character to take the hosts deep and giving themselves plenty to be proud of despite falling short. And with that, the wait for Australia to win an ODI series in Pakistan since 1998 continues.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, FOUR! Shadab Khan finishes off in style. Pakistan had to wait a little longer to celebrate, but it's all happy faces in their dugout. Short of a length, on off, Shadab Khan hangs back and swats it over the mid on region for four runs. Pakistan beat Australia by four wickets and win the series 2-1.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Short and outside off, Shadab Khan cuts it to deep point and gets another brace. The score's level now!

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Short, outside off, Shadab Khan looks to drive it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, A touch fuller, on off, Shadab Khan miscues his expansive drive. The ball loops up and over the mid on fielder and gets a couple of runs.

Adam Zampa to Abdul Samad, Full, just outside off, Abdul Samad punches it to long off for a single.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Off cutter, around the off stump, Shadab Khan taps it back to the bowler.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Full, on off, Shadab Khan nudges it to mid-wicket.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, On a nagging length, outside off, at 116.4 kmph. Shadab Khan hangs back to punch it away but it stays low after pitching on the track to beat the batter. 

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Good-length delivery, outside off, Shadab Khan punches it to the left of the cover fielder and gets a couple of runs. Pakistan one big hit away from the win now.

Nathan Ellis to Abdul Samad, Off cutter from Ellis, just outside off, Abdul Samad steers it to the right of the keeper and gets a single.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Full-length delivery, just outside off, Shadab Khan pushes it to cover and gets a single.

End of Powerplay 2. Pakistan just need 10 more in the remaining 10 overs now.

Adam Zampa to Abdul Samad, Dragged back and around off, Abdul Samad punches it through cover-poit for a brace.

Adam Zampa to Abdul Samad, Floated, full and on off, Abdul Samad defends it on the front foot.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Tossed up, full and on middle, Shadab Khan drives it towads long off for a run.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Short once more, on off, Shadab Khan stays back and dabs it towards point.

Adam Zampa to Shadab Khan, Goes short again and outside off, Shadab Khan cuts it away past point for a couple of runs.

Adam Zampa to Abdul Samad, Shorter in length and on middle, Abdul Samad punches it down to long on for a single.

Adam Zampa is back on.

Nathan Ellis to Abdul Samad, Pace off, full and on off, nips in, Abdul Samad works it through square leg for one. Just 16 more runs to win now.

Nathan Ellis to Abdul Samad, FOUR! Gets it away and that will release a lot of pressure! Fuller delivery, on middle, angles in, Abdul Samad brings his wrists into play and whips it between mid on and mid-wicket for a boundary.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, A low full toss around off, dips in, Shadab Khan drives it to sweeper cover for another run. Pakistan need 21 runs to win!

Nathan Ellis to Abdul Samad, Pitched up and on leg, Abdul Samad works it wide of mid on for a run.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Another off-cutter, on off, moves in sharply, Shadab Khan strides out to play but gets an inside edge onto his pads as the ball goes towards square leg. A leg bye taken.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, Good length and on off, Shadab Khan says back and pats it in front of short cover.

Nathan Ellis to Shadab Khan, WIDE! Not what Australia need at the moment! An off-cutter, on a length and on middle, turns into the leg side, Shadab Khan fails to flick it away. Wided.

Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Fired in, on middle, Shadab Khan taps it to mid on for a single.

Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Keeps it full, on middle, Shadab Khan sweeps it through backward square leg for a brace.

Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Much fuller, on middle and leg, Shadab Khan flicks it to the fielder at backward square leg.

Matt Renshaw to Abdul Samad, Too full, on middle, Abdul Samad knocks it down to long on for a single.

Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Turn and bounce, outside off, Shadab Khan guides it to short third for a single.

Matt Renshaw to Shadab Khan, Flatter, just outside off, Shadab Khan cuts it to backward point.

Marnus Labuschagne to Abdul Samad, A high full toss, on middle, Abdul Samad pulls it through square leg. The fielder chases it and flicks it in just before the fence. The batters collect two runs.

Marnus Labuschagne to Shadab Khan, Too full, on middle, Shadab Khan sweeps it to fine leg for a single.

Marnus Labuschagne to Shadab Khan, Much fuller, on leg, Shadab Khan taps it to mid on.

Marnus Labuschagne to Shadab Khan, Short, on off, Shadab Khan taps it to mid on.

Marnus Labuschagne to Abdul Samad, Fired in, on off, Abdul Samad punches it to cover for a single.

Marnus Labuschagne to Abdul Samad, Short, on middle, Abdul Samad tucks it to mid-wicket.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Fired in, outside off, Shadab Khan leans on and looks to block it but gets beaten.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, FOUR! Top shot! That will ease some pressure. Short ball, on middle and leg, Shadab Khan rocks back and pulls it powerfully over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Matthew Kuhnemann to Shadab Khan, Short, on off, Shadab Khan punches it to cover.