Pakistan easily beat Australia and clinch ODI series 2-1

LAHORE
April 02, 2022, 11:14 PM
by AP/UNB

UNB News
LAHORE
Publish- April 02, 2022, 11:14 PM
AP/UNB
Update- April 02, 2022, 11:29 PM

Pakistan easily beat Australia and clinch ODI series 2-1

Pakistan's Mohammad Wasim, center, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Australia's Ben McDermott during the third one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Australia at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, April 2, 2022. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Pakistan romped to a nine-wicket win over depleted Australia in the third one-day international on Saturday and clinched the series 2-1.

Captain Babar Azam made his second successive century in an unbeaten 105 and Imam-ul-Haq continued his dream run of form with an unbeaten 89 as Pakistan cruised to 214-1 in 37.5 overs.

Read: Bangladesh 298 all out, South Africa lead by 75 in 1st Test

Australia, which posted 300-plus scores in the last two ODIs, crashed against Pakistan pace and was all out for 210 in 41.5 overs after Babar won his third consecutive toss and opted to bowl.

Haris Rauf (3-39) and Shaheen Afridi (2-40) jolted the top order with their pace and young fast bowler Mohammad Wasim polished off the lower order to take 3-40.

Australia's Nathan Ellis, center, celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Pakistan Fakhar Zaman during the third one day international cricket match between Pakistan and Australia at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, Saturday, April 2, 2022. (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Babar and Imam orchestrated Pakistan’s record chase of 349 runs in the second ODI with scintillating centuries and again dominated an inexperienced Australia bowling attack with a brilliant 190-run match-winning partnership.

Australia, without leading players, won the first game by 88 runs. But Babar and Imam combined in the next two games to give Pakistan its first ODI series victory against Australia since 2002.