Nothing summed up the struggle more than Glenn Maxwell’s downfall, one year since his legendary World Cup knock.
Cooper Connolly suffered what could be a fractured hand as Australia’s batting woes continued in the series deciding ODI clash with Pakistan at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Australia, missing Test stars Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, finished with a paltry 9-140 from 31.5 overs on Sunday, with Connolly not able to return after retiring hurt on seven.
Tail-ender Sean Abbott top-scored with 30 from 41 balls, while opener Matt Short was next best with 22.
Jake Fraser-McGurk (7), Aaron Hardie (12), Josh Inglis (7), Glenn Maxwell (0) and Marcus Stoinis (8) were all out cheaply as Australia slumped from 2-56 to 6-88.
Nothing summed up Australia’s struggles in the series quite like the downfall of Maxwell, who this week marked one year since his legendary 201 not out at the 2023 World Cup.
He was out for two ducks and dismissed by Haris Rauf in all three matches.
Just two days after snaring 5-29 to skittle Australia for 163 at Adelaide Oval, Rauf returned figures of 2-24 from seven overs in Perth, while Shaheen Afridi (3-32) and Naseem Shah (3-54) were also rewarded.
Connolly copped a painful blow to his left hand from a rising Mohammad Hasnain delivery in the 17th over.
The 21-year-old, playing just his second ODI, slashed a single from his next ball before calling for medical attention.
Connolly retired hurt on seven, and was taken from the venue to undergo scans.
Australia’s batting implosions have been a big talking point this series, and their floundering performance on Sunday will do little to quieten the critics.
It is the first time Australia have failed to record a single half-century in a two-team ODI series.
And it began at the top on Sunday, with Fraser-McGurk’s footwork non-existent when he edged Shah behind.
Indecision cost Hardie dearly, with his late attempt to leave a rising Afridi delivery resulting in the ball hitting his bat and flying to second slip.
Stand-in captain Inglis scored just seven runs from his first 18 balls before his attempted pull skied high into the air and was easily caught.
Rauf claimed his first victim of the day when Short pulled him to the deep.
And Maxwell fell to Rauf for the third time in a week when he was squared up and popped an easy catch to backward point.
It was left to Abbott, Adam Zampa (13) and Spencer Johnson (12 not out) to add some handy late runs.
But Australia’s total will be tricky to defend, with Pakistan now in an excellent position to win the series.
Afridi suffered a big scare when he was struck on his left thumb while trying to catch a fielder’s return throw.
The star paceman immediately yelled out in pain, and received treatment for several minutes before being given the green light to continue bowling.
Australia made five changes from the team that copped a nine-wicket hammering at Adelaide Oval on Friday, with Stoinis, Connolly, Abbott, Lance Morris and Johnson coming into the side.
