Azam falls short of hundred as Pakistan set Australia target of 264
MELBOURNE: Australia have beaten Pakistan by seven wickets in third One-Day International (ODI) on Thursday at WACA, Perth.
Skipper Steve Smith led the chase of 264 runs and scored a ton.
Peter Handscomb also supported his captain and registered 82 runs, missing out on a century by 18 runs.
Australia won the toss and elected to field first while opener Muhammad Hafeez went back to the pavilion after putting together only four runs. Sharjeel Khan was bowled by Travis Head after completing a fifty.
Asad Shafiq went back after adding five runs to the total.
Babar Azam played a vital innings of 84 runs to help Pakistan set a target of 264 in third Australia one-day international (ODI) at WACA, Perth.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Pakistan batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking with a healthy run rate initially.
Babar Azam remained the top scorer for Pakistan with 84 off 100 balls. His innings included four fours and one six.
Babar Azam also equaled the record of fastest to one thousand ODI runs in this match that was previously shared between Sir Vivian Richards, Kevin Pietersen, Jonathan Trott and Quinton de Kock. All of them achieved this feat in 21 innings.
Sharjeel Khan scored a quick-fire fifty off 47 balls earlier with a strike rate of 106. He hit eight fours and one six.
Shaoib Malik and Umar Akmal got starts but none of them could convert their innings into a big one. Both of them got out on 39.
Malik smashed three fours and a six, whereas, Akmal hit one boundary and one six.
Mohammad Hafeez (4), Asad Shafiq (5) and Imad Wasim (9) failed to get going in the third ODI and got out without troubling the scorers much.
Pakistan were 222/4 at one stage in 42 overs but their batting line-up stumbled towards the ends where they lost three wickets in quick successions and were 246/7 in 46.1 overs.
Mohammad Rizwan (14) and Mohammad Amir (4) remains not out and took the team total to 263/7 in 50 overs, setting Australia a target of 264.
From Australia, Josh Hazlewood remained the standout bowler with three wickets.
Travis Head took two wickets, whereas, Pat Cummins and Billy Stanlake shared one each.
