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The Pakistan national cricket team and Australian men’s cricket team have a long history of high-pressure international cricket, and their latest ODI series in Pakistan added another important chapter to that rivalry. The third ODI of the 2026 series was played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on June 4, 2026. Pakistan won the match by four wickets after restricting Australia to 157 in 42 overs and reaching 161/6 in 41.5 overs. Shaheen Shah Afridi was named Player of the Match after taking three wickets, while Matthew Kuhnemann claimed three wickets for Australia. Josh Inglis top-scored for Australia with 65, while Babar Azam made 40 for Pakistan. The result also gave Pakistan a 2-1 series victory after Australia won the second ODI.
Match Summary
The third ODI began with Australia batting first after winning the toss and choosing to bat.
Australia struggled immediately. Matthew Short was dismissed for a duck by Shaheen Shah Afridi, putting the visitors under pressure at the start of the innings.
Josh Inglis then provided Australia’s main resistance. His 65 from 71 balls included eight fours and one six, but wickets continued to fall around him.
Australia eventually reached 157 all out in 42 overs.
Pakistan’s chase was not completely straightforward. Their top order lost wickets at regular intervals, but Babar Azam’s 40, Maaz Sadaqat’s 27 and Shadab Khan’s unbeaten 29 helped them move toward the target.
Pakistan reached 161/6 in 41.5 overs and won by four wickets.
| Match Detail | Information |
| Match | 3rd ODI |
| Teams | Pakistan vs Australia |
| Date | June 4, 2026 |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Toss | Australia won and elected to bat |
| Australia | 157 all out |
| Pakistan | 161/6 |
| Result | Pakistan won by 4 wickets |
| Player of the Match | Shaheen Shah Afridi |
| Series Result | Pakistan won series 2-1 |
First Innings Scorecard
Australia were bowled out for 157 in 42 overs. Josh Inglis was the only batter to pass fifty, scoring 65 from 71 deliveries.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | Strike Rate |
| Matthew Short | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Josh Inglis | 65 | 71 | 8 | 1 | 91.55 |
| Marnus Labuschagne | 19 | 39 | 2 | 0 | 48.72 |
| Alex Carey | 19 | 32 | 1 | 0 | 59.38 |
| Cameron Green | 7 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 46.67 |
| Matt Renshaw | 4 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 30.77 |
| Cooper Connolly | 3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Oliver Peake | 7 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 53.85 |
| Matthew Kuhnemann | 9* | 29 | 0 | 0 | 31.03 |
| Adam Zampa | 10 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 43.48 |
| Nathan Ellis | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
Australia’s innings never developed into a large total. Inglis’ 65 was particularly important because he provided the only sustained partnership-building contribution from the top order.
The collapse after Inglis’ dismissal prevented Australia from reaching a score that could put serious pressure on Pakistan.
Australian Innings Highlights
Josh Inglis was the clear standout with the bat. His 65 came from 71 balls and included eight boundaries and one six.
Marnus Labuschagne and Alex Carey both scored 19, but neither could build a substantial partnership with Inglis.
The lower order struggled against Pakistan’s combination of pace and spin. Australia lost their final six wickets after reaching 119, eventually being dismissed for 157.
That collapse proved decisive because Pakistan’s target was modest enough for their middle order to absorb pressure during the chase.
Pakistan Bowling Figures
Pakistan used a combination of fast bowling and spin to restrict Australia.
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | 8 | 1 | 30 | 3 | 3.75 |
| Haris Rauf | 7 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 4.71 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 10 | 2 | 19 | 2 | 1.90 |
| Arafat Minhas | 6 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 4.50 |
| Shadab Khan | 9 | 0 | 28 | 2 | 3.11 |
| Salman Ali Agha | 2 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 7.00 |
Shaheen Shah Afridi led the attack with three wickets for 30 runs. His opening spell was important because he removed Matthew Short early and later returned to claim further wickets.
Abrar Ahmed was especially economical. His 10 overs cost only 19 runs and produced two wickets, making his spell one of the major reasons Australia were unable to accelerate.
Shadab Khan also contributed two wickets and helped Pakistan maintain control through the middle overs.
Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Batter | Over |
| 1 | 0 | Matthew Short | 0.2 |
| 2 | 46 | Marnus Labuschagne | 11.5 |
| 3 | 98 | Alex Carey | 22.1 |
| 4 | 119 | Josh Inglis | 26.1 |
| 5 | 120 | Cameron Green | 26.4 |
| 6 | 126 | Matt Renshaw | 29.5 |
| 7 | 131 | Cooper Connolly | 31.1 |
| 8 | 137 | Oliver Peake | 34.2 |
| 9 | 156 | Adam Zampa | 41.2 |
| 10 | 157 | Nathan Ellis | 42.0 |
The fall-of-wickets sequence shows how Australia’s innings lost momentum after Inglis was dismissed at 119.
The next four wickets fell quickly, leaving Australia without enough batting depth to rebuild the innings.
Second Innings Scorecard
Pakistan’s chase was controlled but not dominant. They reached 161/6 in 41.5 overs.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes | Strike Rate |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Maaz Sadaqat | 27 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 103.85 |
| Babar Azam | 40 | 84 | 3 | 0 | 47.62 |
| Muhammad Ghazi Ghori | 8 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 61.54 |
| Salman Ali Agha | 15 | 24 | 1 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Arafat Minhas | 9 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 36.00 |
| Abdul Samad | 18* | 30 | 1 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Shadab Khan | 29* | 42 | 2 | 0 | 69.05 |
Babar Azam’s 40 was Pakistan’s highest score, although it came at a relatively slow pace.
Maaz Sadaqat provided an important early contribution with 27 from 26 balls. His five boundaries helped Pakistan move through the opening stages of the chase.
Shadab Khan remained unbeaten on 29 and Abdul Samad finished on 18 not out. Their partnership ensured that Pakistan avoided late pressure and completed the chase.
Matthew Kuhnemann was Australia’s most successful bowler, taking three wickets.
Kuhnemann’s three wickets gave Australia an opportunity to put Pakistan under pressure, particularly when the home side lost Babar Azam and Arafat Minhas.
However, the target was small enough that Pakistan’s lower middle order could manage the chase without needing a high scoring rate.
Pakistan Fall of Wickets
| Wicket | Score | Batter | Over |
| 1 | 27 | Sahibzada Farhan | 3.0 |
| 2 | 41 | Maaz Sadaqat | 7.3 |
| 3 | 60 | Muhammad Ghazi Ghori | 13.0 |
| 4 | 93 | Salman Ali Agha | 23.1 |
| 5 | 112 | Babar Azam | 29.1 |
| 6 | 112 | Arafat Minhas | 30.4 |
Pakistan lost six wickets, but Australia’s inability to create a final burst of wickets allowed Abdul Samad and Shadab Khan to finish the chase.
The sixth wicket fell with Pakistan on 112, leaving them 46 runs short of victory. The unbeaten partnership that followed proved decisive.
Match Result
Pakistan defeated Australia by four wickets.
Australia were bowled out for 157 in 42 overs, while Pakistan reached 161/6 in 41.5 overs.
The victory gave Pakistan a 2-1 series win.
It was also significant because Pakistan had already won the first ODI by five wickets, while Australia had responded by taking the second match by 41 runs.
The third ODI therefore served as the series decider, and Pakistan’s bowling attack played a central role in securing the series.
Player of the Match
Shaheen Shah Afridi was named Player of the Match after taking three wickets for 30 runs.
His performance was particularly valuable because Australia lost wickets regularly and never established a large total.
Shaheen’s early breakthrough against Matthew Short set the tone for the innings. His ability to strike with the new ball reduced Australia’s opportunity to build a strong opening partnership.
Key Moments
Shaheen removes Matthew Short early
Matthew Short was dismissed for a duck from only two balls. The early wicket immediately gave Pakistan an advantage.
Josh Inglis provides resistance
Inglis scored 65 from 71 deliveries and became Australia’s only batter to reach fifty. His innings prevented the visitors from collapsing even earlier.
Abrar Ahmed controls the middle overs
Abrar conceded only 19 runs from 10 overs while taking two wickets. His economy rate of 1.90 made scoring extremely difficult.
Australia lose momentum after 119
Josh Inglis was dismissed when Australia reached 119. The next several wickets fell rapidly, preventing Australia from pushing the total toward 200.
Babar anchors Pakistan’s chase
Babar Azam scored 40 and provided stability during a chase in which Pakistan also lost wickets.
Shadab and Abdul Samad finish the job
The unbeaten partnership between Shadab Khan and Abdul Samad took Pakistan from 112/6 to 161/6 and secured the series victory.
Match Highlights
The biggest difference between the teams was the ability to take wickets consistently.
Australia’s innings contained only one substantial individual score. Inglis’ 65 represented more than 40 percent of Australia’s total.
Pakistan, meanwhile, received contributions from several batters. Babar scored 40, Maaz Sadaqat made 27, Shadab Khan remained unbeaten on 29 and Abdul Samad contributed 18 not out.
The bowling figures tell an equally important story. Pakistan’s attack produced six different wicket-takers, while Abrar Ahmed and Shaheen Shah Afridi were particularly influential.
Records and Statistical Highlights
| Statistic | Figure |
| Australia total | 157 |
| Pakistan total | 161/6 |
| Winning margin | 4 wickets |
| Highest Australia score | Josh Inglis, 65 |
| Highest Pakistan score | Babar Azam, 40 |
| Best bowling | Shaheen Shah Afridi, 3 wickets |
| Most economical major spell | Abrar Ahmed, 2/19 |
| Australia innings overs | 42.0 |
| Pakistan chase overs | 41.5 |
| Series result | Pakistan won 2-1 |
The most significant number is Australia’s 157. In a 50-over international, that gave Pakistan enough room to absorb wickets and still complete the chase.
Pakistan’s chase was not especially fast, but it was effective. They required only 158 and reached the target before the 42nd over.
Series Context
The third ODI was the deciding match of the three-game series.
Pakistan won the opening ODI in Rawalpindi by five wickets after restricting Australia to 200. Arafat Minhas was named Player of the Match.
Australia responded in the second ODI at Lahore, scoring 231/9 and winning by 41 runs.
Pakistan then returned to winning ways in the third ODI, bowling Australia out for 157 before reaching 161/6.
| ODI | Winner | Margin |
| 1st ODI | Pakistan | 5 wickets |
| 2nd ODI | Australia | 41 runs |
| 3rd ODI | Pakistan | 4 wickets |
Pakistan therefore finished the series with two wins against Australia’s one.
Batting Comparison
Pakistan’s batting was more evenly distributed than Australia’s.
Australia depended heavily on Josh Inglis. His 65 was followed by 19 each from Labuschagne and Carey, but the remaining batters could not provide enough runs.
Pakistan’s highest score was only 40, yet the team still won because several players made useful contributions.
| Team | Top Score | Second-Best Contribution | Total |
| Australia | Josh Inglis – 65 | Labuschagne/Carey – 19 | 157 |
| Pakistan | Babar Azam – 40 | Maaz Sadaqat – 27 | 161/6 |
This is a useful example of why a single large score does not always determine the result. Australia’s leading individual contribution was considerably higher, but Pakistan’s combined batting effort was enough to produce the winning total.
Bowling Comparison
Pakistan’s bowling attack was more consistent throughout the match.
Shaheen Shah Afridi struck early, Abrar Ahmed controlled the middle overs and Shadab Khan added further wickets.
Australia’s Matthew Kuhnemann took three wickets and created some uncertainty during Pakistan’s chase, but the target was not large enough to allow Australia to capitalize fully on those breakthroughs.
| Team | Leading Bowler | Wickets | Runs |
| Pakistan | Shaheen Shah Afridi | 3 | 30 |
| Pakistan | Abrar Ahmed | 2 | 19 |
| Pakistan | Shadab Khan | 2 | 28 |
| Australia | Matthew Kuhnemann | 3 | — |
Head-to-Head Significance
Pakistan and Australia have one of the longest-running rivalries in international cricket. Their meetings have regularly taken place in World Cups, bilateral series and other major competitions.
The 2026 ODI series was significant because it was played in Pakistan and featured several players from the next generation alongside established international names.
Pakistan’s 2-1 series victory showed the value of home conditions and a bowling attack capable of exploiting them.
The third ODI also highlighted the changing balance within the Pakistan lineup, with younger players such as Arafat Minhas and Abdul Samad contributing alongside established names including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan.
Conclusion
The third ODI between Pakistan and Australia in Lahore was decided by Pakistan’s superior bowling performance and a composed chase. Australia were dismissed for 157, with Josh Inglis providing the main resistance through his 65. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s three wickets and Abrar Ahmed’s economical 2/19 helped keep the visitors below a competitive total. Pakistan then reached 161/6 in 41.5 overs, with Babar Azam scoring 40 and Shadab Khan finishing unbeaten on 29. The four-wicket victory secured Pakistan’s 2-1 series win. The match also demonstrated how a balanced bowling attack and contributions throughout the batting order can overcome a side that has one dominant individual performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Pakistan vs Australia third ODI in 2026?
Pakistan won the third ODI by four wickets at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
What was Australia’s score against Pakistan?
Australia were bowled out for 157 in 42 overs.
What was Pakistan’s score in the chase?
Pakistan reached 161/6 in 41.5 overs and won the match by four wickets.
Who was Player of the Match?
Shaheen Shah Afridi was named Player of the Match after taking three wickets for 30 runs.
Who scored the most runs in the match?
Australia’s Josh Inglis was the top scorer with 65 runs from 71 balls. Babar Azam was Pakistan’s highest scorer with 40 runs.
