Pakistan secured a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Australia in the third and final One Day International (ODI) at the Gaddafi Stadium, clinching the three-match series 2-1. In a low-scoring thriller that kept fans on the edge of their seats, an unbeaten 49-run partnership between Shadab Khan and Abdul Samad guided the hosts through a tense middle-order collapse to chase down 158.

Shaheen Sparkles As Australia Collide

After winning the toss, Australian captain Josh Inglis chose to bat first on a slow, two-paced surface. However, their innings unraveled almost immediately. Left-arm speedster Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone on the very second ball of the match, removing opener Matt Short for a golden duck.

Marnus Labuschagne (19) and Inglis looked to steady the ship with a 41-run stand before a disastrous misunderstanding resulted in Labuschagne being run out via a direct hit. Inglis fought a lonely battle, compiling a gritty 65 off 71 deliveries, but he found minimal support from the rest of the order. Pakistan’s bowlers strangled the visitors, with spinner Abrar Ahmed (2/19) and Shadab Khan (2/28) choking the middle phase. Shaheen returned to clear out the tail, finishing with stellar figures of 3/30 as Australia were bundled out for 157 in 42 overs.

Middle-Order Scare and Finisher Heroics

While a target of 158 looked straightforward, the Gaddafi Stadium pitch offered plenty of assistance to the bowlers. Australia's Nathan Ellis struck early by castling Sahibzada Farhan.A stable partnership between Babar Azam (40) and Maaz Sadaqat (27) seemed to put Pakistan in total control.

However, Australian left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann turned the game on its head. Kuhnemann produced a sensational spell, taking 3/38, which included clean-bowling Babar Azam with a sharp turner that rattled the off-stump. Pakistan suddenly slumped from a comfortable position to a precarious 112/6, still needing 46 runs with the lower order exposed.