LAHORE: Pakistan and Australia will lock horns in a winner-takes-all third and final One-day International at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday after the visitors levelled the three-match series with a gritty 41-run victory in here on Tuesday.

The decider presents both teams with an opportunity to finish the series on a high, but it also offers Pakistan another chance to assess a developing ODI squad as preparations continue for the 2027 World Cup.

Australia’s triumph in the second ODI was built on adaptability rather than dominance. On a sluggish surface that offered assistance to both seamers and spinners, half-centuries from Josh Inglis and Cameron Green helped the tourists recover from early setbacks to post 231-9, a total that ultimately proved beyond Pakistan.

Nathan Ellis then produced a masterclass in variation and control, claiming 4-33 as Pakistan were bowled out for 190 despite a spirited resistance from Shadab Khan.

The Australian paceman revealed after Tuesday’s victory that reading conditions quickly had been the key to success.

“I think one of the skill sets I’ve tried to learn in my international career is just adapting on the fly,” Ellis told reporters after the match on Tuesday. “We saw bowlers, fast bowlers going to change-ups pretty early.

“We saw reverse swing and we saw some spin. It looks a little bit different to the traditional one-day cricket we’re seeing around the world at the moment, but I do think there’s a place for it too.”

Ellis also highlighted the importance of Australia’s patient approach with the bat, particularly the partnership between Green and Inglis.

“The maturity and the patience they showed was brilliant. It’s probably match-winning,” he said. “Then you add Ollie Peake’s little cameo at the back end. It was brilliant.”

Pakistan, meanwhile, were left to rue another poor start. After losing Maaz Sadaqat and Sahibzada Farhan cheaply, the hosts slipped to 78-6 before Shadab and Arafat Minhas briefly revived hopes of an unlikely chase.

Although Shadab’s determined 71 came in a losing cause, it represented his first ODI half-century since June 2022 and offered encouragement at a time when questions continue to surround his place in the side.

Having returned to ODI cricket for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, Shadab has yet to take a wicket in the series and has conceded runs at an economy rate of more than six per over. However, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson insisted after Tuesday’s match that the all-rounder is now viewed primarily for his batting.

“Shadab has made a transition throughout his career,” Hesson said during his post-match press conference. “Starting more as a bowler who batted, and I think the transition is very much probably a batting all-rounder. That’s why he bats at six or seven depending on the situation.”

The coach further clarified that Shadab is no longer regarded as one of the team’s frontline bowling options.

“We’ve got four specialist bowlers. Shadab is more the fifth bowler, along with whether it be [Salman Ali] Agha or Maaz in this line-up,” Hesson added.

The emergence of Arafat Minhas has been one of Pakistan’s biggest positives in the series. The young all-rounder followed his impressive debut performance in Rawalpindi with another useful contribution in Lahore, reinforcing his growing reputation.

Hesson praised the youngster’s rapid development.

“Arafat Minhas has made a terrific start,” the coach said. “We hadn’t imagined he would start as well as he has, which is outstanding.

“He’s shown with bat, ball and in the field that he’s ready to go. Every now and again you get a player who takes to international cricket quickly and he seems to have done that.”

Attention will again focus on the pitch for Thursday’s decider after the slow surface used in the second ODI generated considerable discussion. Pakistan’s management has openly spoken about exposing players to a variety of conditions ahead of the next World Cup, and Hesson indicated there would be no dramatic departure from that approach.

“There’s not a huge amount of grass out there to play with,” Hesson remarked after Tuesday’s defeat. “It’s going to be spin and not quick wickets. It is incredibly hot, so that is the type of surface we are going to get at this time of the year.”

The New Zealander dismissed suggestions that the pitch had been responsible for Pakistan’s defeat.

“Today Australia got a few too many with the bat and we started poorly with the ball,” he said. “Certainly, it is not the pitch’s fault.”

For Pakistan, the equation is straightforward. A more stable top-order performance and greater support for Shadab and Arafat will be essential if they are to reclaim the series. Australia, buoyed by the composure they displayed under pressure in the second ODI, will arrive at the Gaddafi Stadium confident of completing a successful comeback.

With the series tied at 1-1 and conditions expected to remain demanding, Thursday’s contest promises a stern examination of temperament, adaptability and execution for two teams still searching for consistency in the 50-over format.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2026