Australia in tatters in one-day series decider against Pakistan

The Australian side has slumped to an unwanted 22-year first in the deciding one-day clash with Pakistan at Perth’s Optus Stadium.

The Australian one-day side has produced another woeful performance to lose the third and deciding match with Pakistan by eight wickets.

The tourists, who were coming off a record nine-wicket win in game two of the three-match contest, just about repeated that effort in Perth.

Chasing a dismal total of just 140 for a rare series win in Australia, Pakistan was never challenged, reaching 2-143 from just 26.5 overs.

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After winning the toss and sending Australia in to bat, a procession of Aussie batters headed back to the dressing room as the hosts were routed in front of a stunned crowd.

In a worrying trend for the current one-day world champions, Australia has recorded consecutive scores batting first of just 163 and now 140, having chased down Pakistan’s 203 for the loss of eight wickets in the first match at the MCG.

Pakistan cantered to 1-169 from just 26.3 overs to win game two in Adelaide and backed that up on Sunday for a one-day series victory in Australia for the first time since 2002.

Australia made five changes from the second game, with the likes of Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins all sitting out to focus on this month’s Test opener against India.

Jake Fraser-McGurk was the first to fall for Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The Pakistani’s eyes would have lit up when they saw the departure of some of Australian cricket’s biggest names and they are taking full advantage on Sunday.

Under new one-day captain Josh Inglis, who would’ve hoped to celebrate his call-up to the Test squad earlier on Sunday, the home side put on 20 for the first wicket before the explosive Josh Fraser-McGurk fell for seven.

Matt Short showed some good signs but he only managed 22, while Aaron Hardie (12), Inglis (7) and Marcus Stoinis (8) all fell cheaply.

Journalist Daniel Cherny summed up Australia’s batting performance with the simple tweet: “That is brain dead cricket.”

Making matters worse, Cooper Connolly took a nasty hit to his hand and has a suspected broken finger, taken to hospital for a scan after retiring hurt when he was on just seven.

With Australia hoping established, matchwinning stalwarts Glenn Maxwell and Stoinis may limit the carnage and help build a total, the former fell for a duck on just his second ball faced.

Cooper Connolly retired hurt after a nasty blow. (Photo by David Woodley/AFP)

After a forward defensive stroke back down the ground on his first delivery, Maxwell attempted to guide a ball on the leg side but got it all wrong, with a leading edge flying to backward point to depart for a duck.

“(Pakistan captain) Mohammad Rizwan is always making changes, full of life … trying to force Maxwell into the big stroke,” commentator Michael Vaughan said as in-form paceman Haris Rauf prepared to bowl the fateful delivery.

Michael Hussey added: “It will be very interesting to see how Maxwell goes about this innings.

“Australia in trouble, four wickets down, Cooper Connolly back in the pavilion with a suspected broken hand.”

The team talk worked a treat for in-form Pakistan. (Photo by David Woodley/AFP)

Seconds later, Maxwell was looking forlornly at his bat after the false stroke.

“Out! Rauf gets Maxwell again, third time for the series, and Australia is crumbling in the west,” Mark Howard screamed.

With Australia in all sorts at 5-79, Hussey was left begging the remaining batters to play some conservative cricket.

“Do they hang in there and bat some time and try to build a partnership or do they say ‘let’s just get as many as we can as quickly as we can’?” he asked.

“Get them before they get us.

“Let’s try to bat as many balls as we can and get up to a score we’ve got a chance to defend.

“Might sound boring, sometimes in cricket you have to just do the hard slog, get boring for a while, knock it around.”

It wasn't the bat's fault, Glenn. Photo: Fox Sports

Instead, Stoinis was tempted into a rising ball and feathered a catch through to keeper Rizwan behind the stumps.

“Let’s be honest, I don’t remember seeing an Australian batting line-up looking so exposed,” Vaughan said.

“Three games on the trot against a bit of pace, a bit of movement, they’ve been completely exposed.”

The Australians managed to bring up three figures and some late hitting took the score to 140 in just 31.5 overs.

Sean Abbott finished with a team-high 30 from 41 balls and tailenders Adam Zampa (13 from 22 balls) and Spencer Johnson (12 from 12) made contributions.

The run chase was then never in doubt, with Pakistan’s openers putting on an 84-run partnership to get things started.

Promising quick Lance Morris picked up two quick wickets to briefly brighten the Aussie fans and reduce Pakistan to 2-85.

But Babar Azam and Rizwan knocked over the winning runs with ease to spark huge celebrations and subject Australia to a deflating start to its home summer of cricket.

Originally published as Australia in tatters in one-day series decider against Pakistan