Pakistan clinched a hard-fought One Day International (ODI) series victory against Australia, overcoming a tense batting collapse to secure a four-wicket win in the decisive final match in Lahore. Chasing a modest target of 158 runs on a bowling-friendly pitch, the hosts found themselves in a precarious position at 112 for 6. However, an unbeaten lower-order partnership guided the team home, sealing a 2-1 series triumph in the three-match tournament.
Low-Scoring Final Settled in Lahore
Having won the toss and elected to bat, Australia struggled to adapt to the conditions and were bowled out for their lowest-ever ODI total on Pakistani soil. Pakistan’s bowling attack laid the foundation for the victory, with opening bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi making an immediate impact by dismissing Matthew Short for a duck on just the second delivery of the match.
Australia attempted to reconstruct their innings through a 46-run partnership between captain Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne. The stand was broken when Labuschagne was run out for 19. Inglis then paired with Alex Carey to add 52 runs for the third wicket, stabilizing the tourists at 98 for 2.
The Australian batting line-up collapsed dramatically thereafter, losing six wickets for the addition of just 39 runs. The decline accelerated when Inglis was dismissed by Afridi for a top score of 65 with the team total at 119. Australia were eventually bowled out for 157. Afridi finished as the pick of the bowlers with 3 wickets, while teammates Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan claimed 2 wickets apiece.
Tense Run Chase and Statistical Summary
Pakistan’s pursuit of the 158-run target proved heavily disciplined by the surface conditions, requiring 41.5 overs to complete the chase. The hosts lost opener Sahibzada Farhan early when the team score stood at 27, after which wickets fell at regular intervals. Captain Babar Azam top-scored for the hosts with a composed 40 runs, but his dismissal left the middle order exposed.
The match shifted conclusively in Pakistan’s favour during the seventh-wicket partnership. Shadab Khan contributed an essential 29 runs, anchoring the chase alongside Abdul Samad, who remained unbeaten on 18. The duo forged an unbroken 49-run stand to guide Pakistan past the target.
The match breakdown and individual contributions are detailed in the statistical tables below:
| Innings | Team | Total Score | Key Batting Performance | Key Bowling Performance |
| 1st Innings | Australia | 157 All Out | Josh Inglis (65) | Shaheen Shah Afridi (3 wickets) |
| 2nd Innings | Pakistan | 158 for 6 | Babar Azam (40) | Shadab Khan (29 Not Out) |
The complete list of key individual figures from the series-deciding match is structured below:
| Player | Team | Statistical Contribution | Match Impact |
| Josh Inglis | Australia | 65 runs | Highest individual score of the match |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 40 runs | Top scorer for Pakistan |
| Shadab Khan | Pakistan | 29 runs & 2 wickets | All-round performance; unbeaten in decisive partnership |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | 3 wickets | Dismantled top order; key wicket of Inglis |
| Marnus Labuschagne | Australia | 19 runs | Involved in 46-run recovery stand before being run out |
| Abdul Samad | Pakistan | 18 runs (Not Out) | Contributed to the match-winning 49-run unbroken stand |
The victory concludes the three-match ODI series, with Pakistan successfully overturning their opponents to seal the trophy on home turf.