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Inspirational captaincy of Pat Cummins mixed up with high-class bowling, Usman Khawaja’s stunning batting display in both innings and a 5-fer on the final day by Nathan Lyon helped Australia clinch the series-deciding third Test against Pakistan by 115-runs.
Australia Test series wins in Pakistan:
- 2-0 in 1959/60 (Richie Benaud)
- 1-0 in 1998/99 (Mark Taylor)
- 1-0 in 2021/22 (Pat Cummins)
Unlike the second Test, Pakistan could not secure a draw in Lahore, chasing 351 after a bold declaration from Australia on 227/3 before Tea on Day 4. Lyon finished with figures of 5/83, which included the key wicket of Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who was looking rock-solid in the final session.
Cummins picked up three wickets, including the final scalp as Australia scripted history. He won the ‘Player of the Match’ for his lion-hearted effort, picking up overall 8 wickets in the match, including a 5-wicket haul in the first innings.
Best match figures by a touring fast bowler in Pakistan:
- 11/152 – Chris Pringle (Faisalabad, 1990)
- 9/187 – Andy Roberts (Lahore, 1975)
- 8/77 – Wes Hall (Dhaka, 1959)
- 8/79 – Pat Cummins (Lahore, 2022)
Khawaja, who scored a whopping 496 runs at a mind-boggling average of 165.33 in the three Tests, was named ‘Player of the Series’. The left-handed batter had smashed a hundred in the second innings and a brilliant 91 in the first innings of the Lahore Test.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Australia win by 115 runs.
Congratulations @CricketAus 👏🏼 #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/zVkHozrsn9— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 25, 2022
Australia win the Benaud-Qadir Trophy after winning the third Test by 115 runs! #PAKvAUS
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 25, 2022
That is Australia's first away Test series victory in more than six years.#PAKvAUS
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) March 25, 2022
https://twitter.com/dizzy259/status/1507318894503292934
This is a phenomenal win for Australia! One for the ages. Well played and well led @patcummins30 👏🏽 Special mention to @Uz_Khawaja & @NathLyon421 👌🏽 Pak were just too defensive throughout be it pitches or approach and it cost them dearly. #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/WKLzvY6Crs
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 25, 2022
What a poetic ending! Australia claims victory in Lahore! And it’s a Test series win for Australia in Pakistan! Bold decisions paid off for the Aussies this match. What a fantastic last day this has been. And Gaz brilliant with a five wicket haul! 🔥 #PAKvAUS
— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) March 25, 2022
Pretty remarkable few years for Australian cricket. Win a series in Asia for the first time in 12 years against Pakistan, and on their last away tour they retain the Ashes in England for the first time in 18 years. #PAKvAUS
— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) March 25, 2022
Two stumps uprooted and splayed on the ground on the slowest pitch of the series by Patrick Cummins is the ultimate final word on this historic series triumph in Pakistan #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/Bn5wExr37u
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) March 25, 2022
Winning a test series in Pakistan against Pakistan- huge achievement for Australia. Many congratulations @cricketcomau
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) March 25, 2022
Credit to AUS for their persistence and honest efforts. Eventually, it was rewarded.
Aus' first Test series win in Asia since 2011.
Cummins' era.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) March 25, 2022
This is serious Home-Cummins for an Aussie pacer in the subcontinent. Quite a statement!
— KSR (@KShriniwasRao) March 25, 2022
If you could pick a perfect image for Australia winning this series, it's hard to top Pat Cummins ripping out the off stump and sending it cartwheeling. What a performance. What a series. Let's not wait another 24 years. #PAKvAUS
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) March 25, 2022
Australia register a historic victory in Pakistan 🙌
They win the third Test by 115 runs and take the series 1-0.#WTC23 | https://t.co/k7Mg7Onz5c pic.twitter.com/v1W2mpVgrz
— ICC (@ICC) March 25, 2022
Fantastic series victory from Australia in Pakistan – especially given some of their recent struggles in Asia.
Sets them on course for a tilt at the World Test Championship
— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) March 25, 2022
https://twitter.com/SajSadiqCricket/status/1507324403566186504