In the third ODI being played in Lahore, Australia were bowled out for 157 runs in 42 overs, setting Pakistan a target of 158 runs to win.
Captain Josh Inglis stood out with a knock of 65 runs off 71 balls, while Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne scored 19 runs each. Labuschagne was dismissed after scoring 10 runs. Seven Australian batsmen failed to reach double figures. Cameron Green was dismissed for 7 runs, while Matt Renshaw made 4 runs.
For Pakistan, captain Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets, while Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan claimed two wickets each. Earlier, Australian captain Josh Inglis won the toss and elected to bat first.
The visiting team made one change, replacing Tanveer Sangha with Cooper Connolly, while the Pakistan team remained unchanged.
Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi said the team aimed to restrict Australia to a low total and win the match to secure the series victory.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and chose to bat first in the third and final One-Day International against Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.
The match serves as the series decider, with both sides tied 1-1 in the three-match ODI series. Pakistan claimed a five-wicket victory in the opening game, but Australia responded with a 41-run win in the second ODI to level the contest and set up a winner-takes-all finale.
This match, being played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, is of immense importance for both teams, as the series is currently tied at 1-1. The winner of this decisive encounter will clinch the series.
For this crucial match, Australia has made one change to its playing XI, with Cooper Connolly replacing Tanveer Sangha. Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi has retained the same winning combination from the previous match and made no changes to his side.
Pakistan’s playing XI consists of Sahibzada Farhan, Moaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Mohammad Ghazi Ghauri, Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Abrar Ahmed.
The Australian side, led by Josh Inglis, includes Matt Short, Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Ollie Peake, Nathan Ellis, Cooper Connolly, Adam Zampa, and Matt Kuhnemann.
Moaz Sadaqat injured while fielding
Pakistani cricketer Moaz Sadaqat was injured while fielding and required immediate medical attention in the 3rd ODI against Australia.
He was attempting to stop the ball near the boundary line when he fell and hit his head on the ground. After falling, his head also struck a nearby advertising signboard.
Medical staff immediately rushed onto the field, and after an initial assessment, Moaz Sadaqat was taken off the field for further examination.
No official statement has yet been released regarding the nature or severity of his injury.
More to follow…
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