Australia lose first series since World Cup win, first at home in five years

Pakistan recorded their first-ever bilateral ODI series win in Australia since 2002 as the home team tripped against Pakistani pace bowlers to lose their first series in the format at home in over five years.

The last time Australia had lost an ODI series at home was prior to Covid in January 2019, to India, and following that they have won every series they have played at home. They beat India in 2020-21, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, and England in 2022, and West Indies in Jan-Feb, 2024.

This is also the first time Australia have lost an ODI series after their 50-over World Cup title win in India in 2023.

“For the first time in their history of playing bilateral ODI series comprising three or more games, Australia did not produce a batter who reached at least 50 with the best individual effort being Inglis's 49 in the opening game at the MCG,” said a report in cricket.com.au.

“The hosts' top-order woes were reflected by a collective average of just 16 for their first seven batters,” the report added.

Pakistan’s newly appointed white ball skipper Mohammad Rizwan began his stint with a historic series win.

The Sabz-kameez or Green Shirts, as they are called, lost the first ODI by a wafer-thin two-wicket margin. But they came back to smash the Aussies by nine wickets and eight wickets in the last two matches.

“This victory came as a significant morale booster for Pakistan, following a challenging year in white-ball cricket marked by underwhelming performances at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2023 and the Men's T20 World Cup 2024,” said a report by International Cricket Council (ICC).

The young Australian team led by Josh Inglis struggled against Pakistan pace attack at Perth in the third and final ODI. Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah took three wickets each, while the in-form Haris Rauf claimed two, limiting Australia to 140.

Only five Australia batters reached double digits, with Sean Abbott's 30, the highest for the hosts on the day, saving them the blushes.

Chasing 141, Abdullah Shafique (37) and Saim Ayub (42) set the stage with a solid 84-run opening partnership before Lance Morris dismissed them in the same over. Babar Azam (28 not out) and Mohammad Rizwan (30 not out) ensured there were no more hiccups and guided Pakistan to victory in 26.5 overs.

In the first ODI at Melbourne, Pakistan were put under pressure by the Australian pacers and restricted to a total of 203 in their first innings, with new captain Rizwan top-scoring with 44 off 71 balls. Mitchell Starc removed the openers early and Australian captain Pat Cummins added to the damage by claiming two wickets.

Despite a middle-order collapse that put Australia under pressure in the second innings, Cummins played a crucial knock of 32 off 31 deliveries to guide Australia to victory.

In the second ODI in Adelaide, Pakistan's pacers turned the tide, restricting Australia to a modest total of 163. Haris Rauf claimed his second ODI five-wicket haul while Shaheen Shah Afridi took three wickets.

Pakistan chased down the target in just 26.3 overs, thanks to a 137-run opening partnership between Abdullah Shafique and Saim Ayub, with the latter scoring his maiden ODI half-century.

Australia cricket, Pakistan cricket, Perth, Mohammad Rizwan, Haris Rauf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique