Match: 3rd ODI Australia Tour of Pakistan 2026
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Date: June 4, 2026
Result: Pakistan won by 4 wickets (49 balls remaining)
Series Result: Pakistan win series 2-1
Pakistan made it three consecutive ODI series wins against Australia clinching the 2026 decider in forceful fashion at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. In a low-scoring, spin-dominated contest, the Green Shirts chased down a target of 158 with four wickets and 49 balls in hand, despite a nervy worried at 112/6. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s three-wicket burst.
1. Pakistan vs Australia 3rd ODI Overview
The toss was delayed by a wet outfield on a cool Lahore evening, but once Australia’s stand-in captain Josh Inglis called correctly and opted to bat, the stage was set for a classic subcontinental spin battle. The surface at Gaddafi Stadium was a square turner the ball gripping and rearing sharply and Australia, instead a fighting 65 from Inglis, could not build partnerships around their skipper. Pakistan’s spin trio of Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Arafat Minhas made batting genuinely difficult.
Pakistan’s chase told a similar story. Maaz Sadaqat gave the hosts a blazing start, but a cluster of wickets in the middle overs primarily from Matthew Kuhnemann’s 3/38 reduced the home side to 112/6 and brought a real sense of anxiety to the Lahore crowd. Then Shadab and Abdul Samad combined coolly for an unbeaten 49-run stand to guide Pakistan home and seal the series.Both the players of pakistani and australian teams also participate on top 15 richest leagues in the world.
2. Pakistan vs Australia 3rd ODI Result
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | 3rd ODI, Australia Tour of Pakistan 2026 |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Date | June 4, 2026 |
| Toss | Australia won, elected to bat |
| Australia Total | 157 all out (50 overs) |
| Pakistan Total | 161/6 (41.5 overs) |
| Result | Pakistan won by 4 wickets |
| Balls Remaining | 49 |
| Series Winner | Pakistan (2-1) |
3. Pakistan vs Australia 3rd ODI Scorecard
Australia Innings Summary
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Short | 0 | 2 | Caught at mid-on off Shaheen |
| Alex Carey | — | — | Batting at top order |
| Josh Inglis (wk/c) | 65 | — | Sole bright spot for Australia |
| Marnus Labuschagne | — | — | Struggled on the turner |
| Cameron Green | — | — | Could not replicate 2nd ODI form |
| Matt Renshaw | — | — | Took 1 wicket with the ball |
| Cooper Connolly | — | — | Debut in the decider |
| TOTAL | 157 all out | 50 overs |
Pakistan Chase Summary
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maaz Sadaqat | 27 | 26 | Rapid start — 5 fours |
| Sahibzada Farhan | — | — | Steady opener |
| Babar Azam | 40 | — | Outfoxed by Kuhnemann’s beauty |
| Ghazi Ghori (wk) | 8 | 13 | Dismissed mid-innings |
| Salman Agha | — | — | Fell to Kuhnemann |
| Arafat Minhas | — | — | Caught at slip by Green off Renshaw |
| Shadab Khan | — | — | Unbeaten match-winner |
| Abdul Samad | — | — | Unbeaten; 49-run stand with Shadab |
| TOTAL | 161/6 | 41.5 overs | Target: 158 |
4. Pakistan Innings: Batting Performance
Pakistan’s chase was a tale of two halves. Maaz Sadaqat, seemingly aware that the pitch would only deteriorate as the innings went on, came out attacking from the very first ball. He blazed to 27 off just 26 deliveries, hitting five fours to give the hosts a platform that the run rate demanded.
Babar Azam, playing his most important knock of the series, contributed a measured 40. His battle with Matthew Kuhnemann was riveting the left-arm finger spinner beat his outside edge on multiple occasions with sharp turn but Babar covered his off-stump intelligently, working in unison with his front foot.Players who have most wickets in international crikets witnessed this match.
After Babar’s dismissal, wickets tumbled. Kuhnemann also removed Ghazi Ghori and Salman Agha. Matt Renshaw then claimed his first ODI wicket having Arafat Minhas caught at slip by Cameron Green to leave Pakistan teetering at 112/6 with 46 runs still needed.
That’s when Shadab Khan and Abdul Samad took over. Two batters who thrive in pressure, they read the pitch expertly and batted without panic. They rotated the strike intelligently, punished the loose deliveries, and knocked off the runs with 49 balls to spare. Shadab struck the winning boundary to send the Lahore crowd into raptures and seal Pakistan’s third successive ODI series win against Australia.
5. Australia Innings: Batting Performance
Australia elected to bat on a turning track a brave call given how the series had unfolded and only Josh Inglis had the technique and temperament to cope. Inglis top-scored with 65, playing some elegant strokes and demonstrating a clear plan against Pakistan’s spinners. His innings, however, was a lone-hand effort.
The tone was set in the very first over when Shaheen Afridi sent Matt Short back for a duck a full, swinging delivery that held up on the pitch, cramped Short as he drove, and looped to Sahibzada Farhan at mid-on for a sharp catch. From that point, partnerships never materialized.Australian players also show their talent in BBL and Major League Cricket.
Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Arafat Minhas created constant pressure with the ball gripping and turning unpredictably. Australia’s middle and lower order offered no resistance to this combined spin onslaught, and they were bowled out for 157 a total that proved roughly 40 runs short of what would have been competitive on this surface.
6. Top Performers of the Match
Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan) 3/30
The captain led his side by example once again, finishing with 3/30 in his allotted overs. Afridi’s ability to reverse swing the old ball made him equally dangerous in the later stages of Australia’s innings. His early breakthrough the golden duck of Matt Short set the context for everything that followed.
Josh Inglis (Australia) 65
The Cricinfo MVP for the match, Inglis fought hard in a losing effort. His 65 stood well above any other Australian batter in this innings and was a reminder of his considerable talent. In his post-match assessment, Inglis was candid: “A bit like the first game, I think we were just too many runs short.”
Matthew Kuhnemann (Australia) 3/38
On a pitch made for left-arm finger spin, Kuhnemann was Australia’s best bowler and nearly dragged them back into a match that looked out of reach. His dismissal of Babar Azam a ball of the match contender was exceptional.
Shadab Khan & Abdul Samad (Pakistan) Unbeaten 49-run stand
The match-winning partnership. Both players absorbed pressure, rotated strike intelligently, and refused to capitulate on a surface where wickets were always just one bad shot away.Pakistan beat australia in first ODI and Australia beat Pakistan in 2nd ODI .
7. Player of the Match Award
Player of the Match: Shaheen Shah Afridi (Pakistan) 3/30
Player of the Series: Arafat Minhas (Pakistan) 60 runs & 7 wickets across the series
Cricinfo’s MVP (Match): Josh Inglis, Australia 104.17 impact points
Arafat Minhas’s series award was richly deserved. The 21-year-old left-arm spinner announced himself on the international stage with a five-wicket debut haul in the first ODI, chipped in with vital runs, and was a constant handful throughout. A star in the making.
8. Key Turning Points of the Match
- Short’s Golden Duck (Over 1): Shaheen Afridi’s swinging first-over delivery removed Short for zero and immediately set Pakistan’s bowling on top.
- Inglis Survives DRS (Over 11.4): Pakistan challenged an LBW decision against Inglis it was struck down. Had it gone the other way, Australia may have been bowled out for under 130.
- Kuhnemann Outfoxes Babar (Mid-Chase): The ball that turned sharply and beat Babar’s outside edge off a slightly shorter length was the moment Australia saw the door back open.
- Pakistan at 112/6: The tightest phase of the match 46 needed, 4 wickets left. The game could easily have swung to Australia here.
- Shadab’s Winning Boundary: With three sixes earlier in the series already behind him, Shadab coolly sealed the game and the series for Pakistan.
9. Best Batting Performances
| Player | Team | Runs | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Josh Inglis | Australia | 65 | Lone fighter in a low total |
| Babar Azam | Pakistan | 40 | Steadied chase before key dismissal |
| Maaz Sadaqat | Pakistan | 27 (26b) | Explosive start — 5 fours |
10. Best Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Team | Figures | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheen Shah Afridi | Pakistan | 3/30 | Early breakthroughs & reverse swing |
| Matthew Kuhnemann | Australia | 3/38 | Threatened to turn the match |
| Abrar Ahmed | Pakistan | Wickets | Consistent pressure in middle overs |
| Matt Renshaw | Australia | 1 wicket | First ODI wicket |
| Arafat Minhas | Pakistan | Wickets | Continued series-long dominance |
11. Records and Milestones Achieved
- Pakistan win their 3rd consecutive ODI series against Australia maintaining a dominant home record in bilateral series.
- Arafat Minhas wins Player of the Series for 60 runs and 7 wickets across the three-match series a staggering debut campaign for the 21-year-old.
- Arafat Minhas (1st ODI) became the first Pakistan bowler ever to take five wickets on ODI debut.
- Shaheen Afridi claimed at least three wickets in two of the three ODIs in this series underlining his status as Pakistan’s premier bowling leader.
- Josh Inglis finished as Australia’s highest run-scorer in the series with consistent performances throughout, despite his side’s 2-1 defeat.
- Pakistan’s 1000th ODI was played in the first match of this very series at Rawalpindi making them only the third nation to reach that landmark after India and Australia.
12. Pakistan vs Australia ODI Series Summary
| Match | Venue | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st ODI (May 30) | Rawalpindi | Pakistan | 5 wickets (45 balls rem.) |
| 2nd ODI (Jun 2) | Lahore | Australia | 41 runs |
| 3rd ODI (Jun 4) | Lahore | Pakistan | 4 wickets (49 balls rem.) |
| Series Result | Pakistan 2-1 |
Pakistan’s victories were built on spin-friendly pitches that amplified the strengths of Arafat Minhas, Abrar Ahmed, and Shaheen Afridi’s reverse-swing. All three matches were competitive and closely fought, giving cricket fans across both nations an outstanding series to remember.
13. What This Result Means for Both Teams
For Pakistan: This is a significant confidence booster. Three straight bilateral ODI series wins against a Test-playing nation of Australia’s calibre even a depleted one demonstrate that Pakistan’s white-ball unit has depth, tactical acumen, and a clear playing identity under Shaheen Afridi’s captaincy. The emergence of Arafat Minhas and the continued form of Ghazi Ghori suggest Pakistan’s future in ODI cricket looks genuinely exciting.
For Australia: The series loss, coming in the absence of Mitchell Marsh (ankle injury) and a full-strength squad, will provide lessons more than lasting damage. Josh Inglis led well and contributed meaningfully with the bat. However, their vulnerability against quality spin on subcontinental surfaces a recurring theme needs addressing ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup in southern Africa.
14. Fan Reactions and Social Media Buzz
Pakistani cricket fans were understandably ecstatic on social media, with hashtags like #PAKvAUS, #ShaheenAfridi, and #ArafatMinhas trending on X (formerly Twitter) within minutes of the final ball. Many celebrated the Player of the Series recognition for Arafat Minhas as the arrival of a generational talent in Pakistani cricket.
Australian fans, while disappointed, praised Josh Inglis for his leadership under difficult circumstances. Several cricket analysts on social media pointed to the surface preparation as Pakistan’s calculated strategy to maximise home advantage a trick that paid off in two of three matches.
Cricket records across the subcontinent noted that Shadab Khan’s resurgence after nearly three years away from ODI cricket was one of the most feel-good stories of the series.
15. Final Thoughts
Pakistan’s 2-1 series win over Australia in June 2026 was built on smart cricketing instincts, excellent bowling discipline, and players rising to the occasion under pressure. The series had everything a record debut, an epic final-over thriller, and a low-scoring decider decided in the last six overs. Arafat Minhas is Pakistan’s brightest new bowling star, Shaheen Afridi continues to lead from the front with both ball and captaincy, and Shadab Khan reminded everyone why he was once considered one of the finest T20 all-rounders in the world.
Australia will regroup, but for now, Pakistan deserve enormous credit for winning their third successive ODI series against the world champions on home soil.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who won the Pakistan vs Australia 3rd ODI 2026?
Pakistan won by 4 wickets with 49 balls remaining at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on June 4, 2026.
What was Australia’s score in the 3rd ODI?
Australia were bowled out for 157 in 50 overs on a spin-friendly surface in Lahore.
Who was the Player of the Match in PAK vs AUS 3rd ODI 2026?
Shaheen Shah Afridi was named Player of the Match for his bowling figures of 3/30 that dismantled Australia’s top order.
Who won the Pakistan vs Australia ODI series 2026?
Pakistan won the three-match ODI series 2-1, their third consecutive bilateral ODI series win against Australia.
Who was the Player of the Series in the PAK vs AUS 2026 ODI series?
Arafat Minhas won the Player of the Series award, contributing 60 runs and 7 wickets across three matches — including a historic five-wicket debut haul in the first ODI.
How did Shadab Khan perform in the 3rd ODI?
Shadab Khan played a match-winning unbeaten innings alongside Abdul Samad, forming a critical 49-run seventh-wicket stand to guide Pakistan home from 112/6.
What record did Arafat Minhas break in this series?
Arafat Minhas became the first Pakistan bowler ever to take five wickets on ODI debut, achieving this feat in the series opener at Rawalpindi.
Why did Australia post a low total of 157 in the 3rd ODI?
The Gaddafi Stadium pitch was a significant turner with extra bounce, and Pakistan’s spinners — Abrar Ahmed, Arafat Minhas, and Shadab Khan — exploited the conditions brilliantly. Only Josh Inglis (65) could handle the surface.
What was the Cricinfo MVP award for the 3rd ODI?
Josh Inglis of Australia won the Cricinfo MVP (Most Valuable Player) award with 104.17 impact points, despite being on the losing side, for his top-scoring innings of 65.
Is Mitchell Marsh the Australia captain for this series?
No. Mitchell Marsh was ruled out of the tour with an ankle injury. Josh Inglis served as Australia’s stand-in captain for all three ODIs.