Inability to accelerate the run rate in final overs proved costly for Pakistan and in the end Australia comfortably reached the target of 264 runs in third ODI at WACA ground in Perth, leading the five-match series 2-1.
Though Pakistan got out both the Australian Openers David Warner and Usman Khawaja for 45 but then 183-run partnership between Steven Smith and Peter Handscomb dented Pakistan’s hopes of clinching another win in the series.
Steven Smith made his eighth ODI Century and also completed his 3000 ODI runs, becoming the fastest Australian to do so as he did it in 79 innings.
The debutant Peter Handscomb survived twice as first he was caught at slip on a no ball by Junaid Khan, and then Muhammad Nawaz dropped his Catch again of Junaid’s ball. Eventually he got out on 82.
In the end, Australia reached the target in 45 overs with 7 wickets in hand.
Earlier with Babar Azam’s 84 runs, Pakistan scored 263 runs in stipulated 50 overs.
Babar Azam completed his 1000 ODI runs in his 21th innings, becoming the joint-fastest to the milestone in ODIs besides Viv Richards, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Quinton de Kock.
Sharjeel Khan was the second highest scorer for Pakistan with 50 runs followed by Shoaib Malik and Umar Akmal with 39 runs each.
In last 10 overs, Pakistan managed to score just 50 runs and hit three boundaries which eventually were not enough to put the Australian batsmen in pressure while Chasing.
The fourth ODI between Pakistan and Australia will be played at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 22.
Western #Australia Cricket Association Ground Information.
First ODI India v New Zealand – Dec 9, 1980 #PakvAus #cricket #WACA pic.twitter.com/1D0W2p41sy— PTV Sports Official (@PTVSp0rts) January 18, 2017
