Pakistan Beat Australia 2-1 in ODI Series as Shaheen Afridi Leads Gritty Triumph

May 06, 2026: Pakistan secured a 2-1 ODI series victory over Australia under the leadership of Shaheen Shah Afridi after edging out the visitors by four wickets in a low-scoring decider in Lahore. Chasing a modest target of 158, Pakistan faced a stern challenge on a spin-friendly surface before eventually reaching the target in 41.5 overs with 49 balls to spare.

The hosts had already won the opening ODI by five wickets before Australia bounced back in the second match, defending 231 runs to register a 41-run victory. However, Pakistan held their nerve in the series decider to seal their third consecutive ODI series win over Australia.

Babar Anchors Difficult Chase as Shadab, Samad Finish the Job

Despite the relatively small target, Pakistan's batting line-up found run-scoring difficult on a pitch offering significant assistance to the spinners. Maaz Sadaqat provided an early boost with a brisk 27 off 26 balls, including five boundaries, but wickets at regular intervals kept Australia in the contest.

Veteran batter Babar Azam played a patient and determined innings, scoring 40 runs from 84 deliveries. Although his strike rate remained below 50, his knock proved crucial in stabilizing the chase. Salman Ali Agha contributed 15 runs from 24 balls, while Arafat Minhas managed nine runs off 28 deliveries.

Australia's bowlers tightened the screws as Pakistan slipped to 112/6, raising the possibility of an unlikely collapse. However, Shadab Khan and Abdul Samad guided the hosts home with an unbeaten 49-run partnership. Shadab remained not out on 29 from 42 balls, while Samad finished unbeaten on 18 from 30 deliveries.

Nathan Ellis once again troubled Babar with his variations, but the former Pakistan captain showed greater composure after falling to the pacer in the previous two matches. Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann was Australia's standout bowler, claiming 3/38 and consistently extracting sharp turn from the surface.

HISTORY CREATED BY PAKISTAN..!!! 🇵🇰

- Pakistan become the first Asian team to win three consecutive ODI series against Australia. pic.twitter.com/Xr6iXP4f0v

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) June 5, 2026

Shaheen Leads Bowling Charge as Minhas Earns Player of the Series Award

Earlier, Australia elected to bat first but were bundled out for just 157 in 42 overs after suffering a dramatic collapse. From a relatively comfortable position of 119/3, the visitors lost their final seven wickets for only 38 runs.

Stand-in opener Josh Inglis was Australia's lone bright spot, scoring an impressive 65 off 71 balls, including eight fours and a six. Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne added 19 runs each, while Adam Zampa chipped in with 10. No other Australian batter managed to reach double figures.

Pakistan's bowlers made full use of the turning conditions. Captain Shaheen Shah Afridi led the attack with three wickets, while Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan picked up two wickets apiece. Haris Rauf also struck at a crucial moment, dismissing Carey with a superb delivery to trigger Australia's collapse.

The pitch, prepared with a heavy emphasis on spin as part of Pakistan's preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, proved challenging throughout the series. While the effectiveness of such surfaces as World Cup preparation remains debatable, the strategy helped Pakistan assess its spin resources and emerging talent.

One of the biggest positives for the hosts was the emergence of Arafat Minhas. The young all-rounder enjoyed a memorable debut series, claiming seven wickets in three matches. He made history in the opening ODI by becoming the first Pakistani cricketer to take a five-wicket haul on ODI debut. His outstanding performances earned him the Player of the Series award.

After disappointing ODI and Test results in Bangladesh and a forgettable T20 World Cup campaign, this series victory provides Pakistan with a much-needed boost and a positive platform to build on ahead of future international assignments.