Cooper Connolly sustained what could be a fractured hand as Australia relinquished their ODI series to Pakistan following another dismal batting performance. With key Test players like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood absent, Australia managed a mere 140 runs from 31.5 overs on Sunday. Connolly was forced to retire hurt on seven after being struck.

In response, Pakistan achieved the victory target with 139 balls remaining, securing an eight-wicket win and a 2-1 series victory over the world champions. This marked Pakistan's first series win against Australia in Australia in 22 years. Saim Ayub (42) and Abdullah Shafique (37) laid the foundation for Pakistan, while Mohammad Rizwan (30 not out) and Babar Azam (28 not out) sealed the victory.

Australia barely reached the 204-run target in the first game in Melbourne, then were dismissed for 163 in a nine-wicket loss to Pakistan in Adelaide. The batting performance in Perth, in front of 19,781 spectators, was even more abysmal, with tail-ender Sean Abbott top-scoring with 30 from 41 balls, and opener Matt Short (22) the next best. This was the first time no Australian batsman scored a half-century in an ODI series of three or more matches.

Jake Fraser-McGurk (7), Aaron Hardie (12), Josh Inglis (7), Glenn Maxwell (0), and Marcus Stoinis (8) all fell cheaply as Australia collapsed from 56 for two to 88 for six. Haris Rauf, who took five for 29 in Adelaide, returned figures of two for 24 from seven overs in Perth, while Shaheen Afridi (three for 32) and Naseem Shah (three for 54) also contributed significantly.

Connolly suffered a painful blow to his left hand from a rising Muhammad Hasnain delivery in the 17th over. The 21-year-old, playing in just his second ODI, managed a single from his next ball before seeking medical attention. Connolly retired hurt on seven and underwent scans before returning to Optus Stadium to support his teammates from the bench.

Australia's batting collapses have been a major talking point this series, and their performance on Sunday did little to silence the critics. Fraser-McGurk's lack of footwork resulted in him edging Shah behind. Hardie's indecision led to a rising Afridi delivery hitting his bat and flying to second slip. Stand-in captain Inglis scored just seven runs from his first 18 balls before his attempted pull was easily caught.

Rauf claimed his first victim of the day when Short pulled him to the deep, and Maxwell fell to Rauf for the third time this series when he was squared up and caught at backward point. Abbott, Adam Zampa (13), and Spencer Johnson (12 not out) added some late runs, but Australia needed everything to go right to defend their low total, which did not happen.

Lance Morris missed a tough catch in the deep when Saim was on 16, and Zampa dropped Shafique on the boundary with the score at 70 without loss. With Pakistan in control, Australia faced the prospect of a 10-wicket ODI loss for the first time in Australia. However, Morris (two for 24) produced a sharp catch off his own bowling to remove Shafique, before dismissing Saim five balls later.

Source link:   https://www.theguardian.com