Pakistan clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1 after defeating Australia by four wickets in the third and final match at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
The win marked Pakistan’s third consecutive ODI victory over the six-time world champions, as the Green Shirts successfully chased down 158 in the 42nd over.
Shadab Khan starred with an important all-round performance, following his economical spell of 2/28 with an unbeaten 29-run cameo that helped Pakistan recover from a difficult position.
The hosts had a shaky start against Australia when Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for six in the third over, with Pakistan at 27. Maaz Sadaqat, who had dominated the opening stand, added 14 runs with Babar Azam before falling lbw to Matthew Short in the eighth over.
Maaz scored a brisk 27 off 26 balls, hitting five boundaries.
Babar then anchored the innings and built useful partnerships with Ghazi Ghori, Salman Ali Agha and Arafat Minhas. Ghori made eight, Salman scored 15 and Minhas added nine before being caught at slip by Matt Renshaw.
Babar remained Pakistan’s top scorer with a patient 40 off 84 balls, including three fours, before Matthew Kuhnemann removed him in the 30th over.
Pakistan were reduced to 112/6 after Minhas’ dismissal, but Shadab and Abdul Samad kept their composure and guided the side home with an unbeaten 49-run stand for the seventh wicket.
Shadab finished unbeaten on 29 from 42 balls, while Samad remained not out on 18 off 30 deliveries.
For Australia, Kuhnemann was the standout bowler with figures of 3/38 in 10 overs. Nathan Ellis, Short and Renshaw picked up one wicket each.
Earlier, Australia captain Josh Inglis chose to bat first, but the decision backfired as the visitors were bowled out for 157 in 42 overs.
Shaheen Afridi gave Pakistan an ideal start by removing Matthew Short for a duck on the second ball of the innings. Marnus Labuschagne then joined Inglis and added 46 runs for the second wicket before being run out for 19 in the 12th over after a direct hit from Arafat Minhas.
Inglis then shared a 52-run third-wicket stand with Alex Carey, who made 19 before falling to Haris Rauf in the 22nd over.
Shaheen returned in the 27th over to dismiss Inglis and Cameron Green, leaving Australia struggling at 120/5. Inglis remained Australia’s top scorer with a gritty 65 off 71 balls, featuring eight fours and one six, while Green managed seven.
Australia continued to collapse as Abrar Ahmed removed Matt Renshaw for four and Cooper Connolly for three in successive overs. Shadab then ended his ODI wicket drought by dismissing Oliver Peake in the 35th over.
He struck again in the 42nd over, bowling Adam Zampa for 10, before Matthew Kuhnemann was run out in the same over to end Australia’s innings.
Shaheen led Pakistan’s bowling attack with 3/30 in eight overs, while Shadab and Abrar took two wickets each. Haris Rauf also chipped in with one wicket.