Pakistan vs Australia 3rd ODI - Team overview, head-to-head, & live streaming details

It's a series decider which, going by the way the series started, wasn't really expected. Australian bowlers gave Pakistan a taste of their own medicine by exploiting the slow surface in Lahore. Nathan Ellis was the wrecker-in-chief as Pakistan failed to reach even a low 231-run target.

That has been the pattern this series; bowlers dominating in low-scoring affairs. Ellis echoed the view held by many others that this series hardly is anything like how one-day cricket, or any format for that matter, is played. However, such surfaces which produce such games aren't unheard of. Pakistan's head coach Mike Hesson also believes that such drills will help the side during the ODI World Cup, where some venues can potentially be similar in nature.

Team Overview:

Pakistan:

But currently at stake is the series. Both teams have shown they are prepared to use the spin tracks to their advantage with the ball. With the bat, on the other hand, Australia have posed a better challenge. Pakistan openers are yet to chip in with any significant contribution. Both Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat were among the first to depart in both games, and the hosts could do with them showing more resistance. The middle and late order batters, much to Pakistan's pleasure, have done a decent job.

Australia:

Australia's batting has been somewhat opposite. In both games, their top-order stepped up quite emphatically. The main difference, arguably, between Australia's batting in both games was that the middle-order stepped on the gas in the second. Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw and Oliver Peake put forth crucial runs, which as Josh Inglis said, helped them get over 200 as per the plan.

Pitch report: 

The surface in the first game very obviously inclined towards slower bowlers, more so in the first innings when the dew didn't factor in. And going by how Mike Hesson believes such spin tracks will help Pakistan prepare better for the World Cup, the decks in the next two games could get the same treatment as well. Similarly, dew will likely be a fixture in the second innings, which renders the toss crucial.

The weather, however, is not expected to play ball during the game. There is forecast for rain during the match hours but it shouldn't be severe enough to abandon the entire game.

Head-to-head matches: 

In 113 total matches between the two teams, Australia dominate the match-up with 72 wins, while Pakistan were the better side in only 37 of those.

Where to Watch:

Pakistan: PTV Sports, PCB Live app

Australia: Fox Sports

United Kingdom: PCB Live app

India: No confirmed broadcast deal

MENA: Cricbuzz

Bangladesh: TSports, Tapmad

Sri Lanka: Dialog

North America: PCB Live app

Europe: PCB Live app

Caribbean: PCB Live app

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