Preview: Pakistan confident ahead of decisive third ODI against Australia

With the series on the line, Pakistan will look to finish strong and secure a historic win on Australian soil.

PHOTO: AFP

Pakistan's cricket team is feeling confident as they head into the third and final ODI against Australia, looking to secure a rare series win on Australian soil. After a dominant nine-wicket victory in the second ODI in Adelaide, the team has leveled the series 1-1 and is aiming to finish strong in Perth.

Pakistan's performance in Adelaide was a standout, with fast bowler Haris Rauf taking 5 wickets for just 29 runs, helping to restrict Australia to a low total of 163 runs. Pakistan easily chased down the target with 141 balls to spare, leveling the series.

Now, as both teams head to Perth for the final match, Pakistan enters as the favorite. Australia, however, will be missing key players like Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne, all of whom will be resting and preparing for the upcoming Test series against India. This leaves Australia with a weakened lineup, which will be led by 29-year-old Josh Inglis, making his debut as captain.

Inglis, who has been in good form with the bat, will have to lead a new-look team. His task will be to rally the side and face Pakistan's confident bowlers, particularly Haris Rauf, who has been in superb form this series. Rauf, who has taken eight wickets so far, will be looking to continue his strong performance on the fast and bouncy pitch at Optus Stadium, a ground known for favoring fast bowlers.

Pakistan, on the other hand, will go into the match with an unchanged lineup after their dominant win in the second ODI. Young opener Saim Ayub, who played an aggressive knock in Adelaide, will be key for Pakistan's batting, while the pace trio of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Haris Rauf will be looking to keep Australia on the back foot.

The conditions in Perth are expected to be favorable for batting, with a fast pitch and relatively mild temperatures. With the series on the line, Pakistan will look to finish strong and secure a historic win on Australian soil.