Australia vs Pakistan 3rd ODI: Final Match Decider in Perth

Australia vs Pakistan 3rd ODI: Series Decider in Perth 

The third and final ODI between Australia and Pakistan will be held at Optus Stadium, Perth, on Sunday, November 10. This match will determine the series winner, as both teams have one victory each in the first two ODIs. The final game promises to be a thrilling contest with a draw on the horizon.

Key Information:

Date: Sunday, November 10

Time: 9:00 AM IST (Toss at 8:30 AM IST)

Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth

Squads:

Australia Squad: Josh Inglis (captain and wicketkeeper), Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Josh Philippe, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, and Sean Abbott.

Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Agha Salman, Arafat Minhas, and Mohammad Rizwan (captain).

Preview: With key players like Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Marnus Labuschagne resting ahead of the Test series against India, Australia will lean on their younger and less-experienced players. The absence of these senior players puts more responsibility on the shoulders of Josh Inglis, who will captain the team for this decisive match. Inglis’ leadership will be crucial for maintaining morale and focus as Australia aims for a much-improved performance compared to the previous two matches.
Australia's Challenges: The Australian batting lineup has faced significant criticism after two
underwhelming performances, In the first ODI, Australia narrowly won by two wickets, but the team’s batting struggles were evident. Their poor shot selections and inability to adjust to the conditions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground were pointed out by Ian Healy, with concerns raised about the lack of discipline shown by the batters. Australia's batting lineup will need to adapt and show patience, particularly with the unpredictable pitch conditions in Perth

In the second ODI, the collapse was even more significant, as Australia was bowled out for just 163 runs, falling to Haris Rauf’s brilliant 5-wicket haul. Rauf’s pace bowling consistently troubled Australian batsmen, leading to their swift downfall. Pakistan’s strong performance, spearheaded by Saim Ayub (82) and Abdullah Shafique (64), allowed them to comfortably chase down the target in just 26.3 overs, winning by 9 wickets. This defeat highlighted Australia’s batting woes, with too many players failing to stand up under pressure.

With the series on the line, Australia must address these weaknesses and improve their performance in all aspects of the game—batting, bowling, and fielding. Although Australia’s top players are absent, the remaining squad members will need to step up, especially in the absence of key bowlers like Starc and Cummins. This will be a crucial opportunity for the younger players to showcase their talent and maturity under pressure.

Pakistan's Opportunities: Pakistan will enter the third ODI with confidence, having secured a dominant win in the second match. With Haris Rauf in outstanding form, Pakistan’s bowling attack looks sharp, and the batting line-up, including the likes of Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, and Saim Ayub, has shown excellent form. Pakistan will be aiming to carry forward their momentum and win the series in Australia, a significant achievement for the team.

The key to Pakistan's success will be maintaining pressure on the Australian batters. With a well-rounded squad and a potent bowling attack, Pakistan will look to capitalize on Australia’s batting struggles and seal the series with another dominant performance.

Previous Performances in the ODI Series:

2nd ODI: Haris Rauf Stars for Pakistan

In the second ODI, Haris Rauf took a remarkable 5 wickets for 29 runs, leading Pakistan to a dominant win. Australia collapsed for just 163 runs, and Pakistan chased down the target in just 26.3 overs with ease. Saim Ayub (82) and Abdullah Shafique (64) provided a solid opening partnership, while Rauf’s pace bowling put constant pressure on Australia’s batsmen.

Australia’s batting line-up failed to deliver, with all players getting out inside 35 overs. The loss highlighted the ongoing issues with Australia’s batting, particularly their inability to cope with Pakistan’s bowling attack. Pakistan won by 9 wickets, with Rauf’s outstanding performance and the team’s clinical chase securing the series-tying victory.

1st ODI: A Narrow Escape for Australia

In the first ODI at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia triumphed by a narrow margin of two wickets after chasing down a target of 204 runs in 33.3 overs. Despite the victory, Ian Healy was critical of Australia’s batting performance, which lacked discipline and respect for the conditions. Josh Inglis and Steve Smith showed some control but were dismissed due to poor shot selection. Pat Cummins played a vital unbeaten knock of 32 runs, guiding Australia over the line

Pakistan’s Performance: Pakistan struggled with early breakthroughs as Mitchell Starc led the Australian attack, claiming two early wickets. However, Mohammad Rizwan (44) and Babar Azam (37) steadied the innings, but no one could convert their starts into a bigger score. Pakistan finished with 203 runs, with lower-order contributions from Shaheen Shah Afridi (24) and Naseem Shah (40).

Australia's bowlers, led by Mitchell Starc (3/33), restricted Pakistan to a modest total. Despite the victory, Australia’s batting was far from convincing, and the team’s struggles were evident.