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Series Decider: Pakistan Edge Australia in LahorePakistan recovered from a precarious 161-6 in 41.5 overs to chase down Australia’s 157 at the Gaddafi Stadium, winning by four wickets and clinching the series 2‑1.Key Match Figures and Turning PointsAustralia innings: 157 all out in 42 overs; top‑score Babar Azam 40 (caught by Matthew Kuhnemann 3‑38).Pakistan chase: 161‑6 in 41.5 overs; Shadab Khan 29* (2‑28), Abdul Samad 18* not out.Bowling highlights: Shaheen Shah Afridi 3‑30, Abrar Ahmed 2‑19, Haris Rauf 2‑22 (including a wicket of Alex Carey).Australia batting: Josh Inglis 65 off 71 balls; remaining batsmen ≤19 runs.Why the Spin‑Friendly Pitch Shifted the BalanceThe Lahore surface offered significant turn, rewarding Pakistan’s spin attack. Matthew Kuhnemann’s early breakthrough of Babar Azam set the tone, while Pakistan’s spinners, especially Abrar Ahmed, applied sustained pressure that forced Australia into a low total.Implications for Both Teams Moving ForwardSecuring the series at home restores confidence for Pakistan ahead of upcoming international commitments, highlighting the effectiveness of their spin‑heavy strategy on sub‑continental wickets. Australia, despite a solid opening partnership, must reassess their middle‑order approach on slower pitches if they are to compete in similar conditions.Looking Ahead: What the Victory Means for Pakistan’s Next ChallengesWith the series win, Pakistan will aim to carry the momentum into future fixtures, emphasizing the blend of disciplined pace (Shaheen, Rauf) and spin (Abrar, Shadab). Australia will likely revisit batting tactics against low‑bounce, turning tracks to avoid repeat collapses.

The Lead: Australia's Comeback VictoryNathan Ellis starred with the ball as Australia dismissed Pakistan for 190 to level the the one-day international series in Lahore with a victory by 41 runs.The Sydney-born quick claimed opener Maaz Sadaqat for a duck and then sent the dangerous-looking Babar Azam back to the sheds for 16 to leave the hosts struggling.Ellis's Four-Wicket TornadoHe finished with 4-33 with Matthew Short chipping in with 3-36 as the Pakistan reply petered out. The Australian bowler's performance was crucial in restricting Pakistan after the hosts had looked to build a substantial chase.Australian Batting ResilienceEarlier, Josh Inglis and Cameron Green hit fighting half centuries to help Australia post 231-9. Green knocked a polished 92-ball 53 while Inglis scored a 74-ball 51 to counter another spin test on a dry Gaddafi Stadium pitch after the visitors were put in to bat by Pakistan.The Green-Inglis duo lifted Australia from 51-3 with a sedate 51-run stand after Pakistan attacked with the spin as early as from the fifth over.Spin Challenge OvercomeIt was pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi who bowled opener Alex Carey with the first ball of the match before spinners Abrar Ahmed and Arafat Minhas struck once each, removing Matthew Short (15) and Marnus Labuschagne for five respectively.Inglis hit five boundaries in his fifth ODI fifty before he was bowled by Minhas in the 27th over. Minhas, who took five wickets on debut in Pakistan's five-wicket win in the first ODI in Rawalpindi on Saturday, finished with 2-27.Series ImplicationsGreen added another invaluable 65 runs for the fifth wicket with Matthew Renshaw (43) before Abrar removed Green to push the visitors hard. Green's third ODI half century had a single boundary and two sixes.Oliver Peake ensured Australia post a fighting total with a brisk 32-ball 31 inclusive of two sixes and a boundary. Shaheen was the best home bowler with 3-36.

Pakistan cricketer Fakhar Zaman has been handed a two-match ban for ball tampering during the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced the suspension after finding Zaman guilty of a Level 3 offence.The incident took place during Lahore Qalandars' match against Karachi Kings in Lahore on Sunday night. Video footage showed Zaman altering the condition of the ball, leading to a disciplinary hearing with match referee Roshan Mahanama of Sri Lanka.Zaman denied ball tampering, but Mahanama viewed television footage that implicated Zaman, along with teammates Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf, and umpire Faisal Afridi. The umpire awarded five penalty runs against Qalandars, who lost the match by four wickets.In addition to Zaman's ban, Shaheen Shah Afridi was fined $3,500 for breaching the tournament's security protocols. The PSL is taking place behind closed doors due to fuel supply concerns caused by the Iran war.This is not the first disciplinary action in the PSL; fast bowler Naseem Shah recently faced a hefty fine for criticising a politician on social media.