Pakistan Vs Australia 3rd ODI Update live
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Australia capitalised on Pakistan's errors to win the one-day international in Perth on Thursday by seven wickets, with skipper Steven Smith scoring a century.
Pakistan made 263 for seven after being sent to bat, having looked set to post a much bigger score at several stages. But the home side replied with 265 for three, winning with 30 balls to spare.
After paceman Josh Hazlewood applied the brakes to a promising Pakistan innings with three wickets, skipper Smith and ODI debutant Peter Handscomb put on 183 for the third wicket in the chase to set their team on the path to victory.
Australia lead the five-match series 2-1.
Pakistan had chances to seize control of the match, but paid the price for basic errors.
When they claimed openers David Warner (35) and Usman Khawaja (nine) in five balls they had Australia wobbling at 45 for two.
One run later Handscomb was on his way back to the pavilion for a duck on debut, caught at first slip from the bowling of Junaid Khan.
Australia should have been 46 for three, but Handscomb was recalled to the centre due to a front foot no-ball.
To make matters worse, Handscomb had another life on 10 when a simple catch was dropped at point, with Junaid again the aggrieved bowler.
It proved to be Pakistan's undoing.
Handscomb eventually fell for 82 from 84 balls, but the game was safely in Australia's hands by then.
Smith brought up his eighth ODI century by pulling the 97th ball he faced to the mid-wicket boundary and finished unbeaten on 108.
Earlier in the day, Hazlewood reined the visitors in after they made a flying start, picking up 3-32 from his 10 overs.
Pakistan set Australia a target of 264 to win but squandered the opportunity to post a big score in the third one-day international at Perth's WACA Ground on Thursday.
With the five-match series level at 1-1 Pakistan looked to be building to a massive score in excess of 300 after being asked to bat by Australia captain Steven Smith.
On a flat wicket ideal for batting they had raced along at better than six runs an over, but the steady loss of wickets eventually slowed them and Pakistan finished with a disappointing 263 for seven from their 50 overs.
Paceman Josh Hazlewood was the man who reined in the visitors, picking up three for 32 from his 10 overs.
He claimed the vital wickets of Babar Azam, who top-scored with 84, Umar Akmal (39) and opener Mohammad Hafeez (4).
Babar played beautifully and appeared set to add another century to his blossoming career, before he was brilliantly caught by ODI debutant Peter Handscomb.
The Pakistani number three equalled the record held by four other players for reaching 1,000 runs in his 21st innings before falling to Hazlewood.
Babar attempted a pull shot and Handscomb took a great diving catch with the third umpire confirming the Australian got his fingers under the ball.
Babar rode his luck being dropped low down by James Faulkner on 31 and then Pat Cummins grassed a tough chance when he was 74.
Umar should have been stumped on one, but wicketkeeper Matthew Wade botched the dismissal, which would have given part-timer spinner Travis Head (2-65) a third scalp.
