Pakistan beats Australia by 8 wickets to clinch 3-game ODI series

PERTH, Australia (AP) — Pakistan achieved its first win over Australia in a 50-overs series in Australia since 2002 when it won the deciding third one-day international Sunday by eight wickets.

Australia’s under-strength batting lineup folded in the face of hostile bowling from Pakistan’s pace attack and was all out for 140 in 31.5 overs.

The home team was without captain Pat Cummins, Steven Smith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Marnus Labuschagne, all of whom were rested to prepare for the first of five tests against India that begins in Perth on. Nov. 22.

Saim Ayub (42) and Abdullah Shafique (37) then gave Pakistan’s chase a solid foundation in an 84-run opening partnership before both fell in the same over, bowled by Lance Morris.

That left Babar Azam and captain Mohammad Rizwan to steer Pakistan to an important victory. The pair put on a further 58 for the third wicket before Babar ended the chase in the 27th over when he hit Adam Zampa for four to take Pakistan to 143-2.

Pakistan won with 139 balls to spare.

“This is a special moment for me because we know our nation will be happy,” Rizwan said. “They don't always get what they expect from us as a team. Today we are happy as a team because our nation will be happy.”

The Pakistan pacemen have dominated the series since Australia won the opening match by two wickets in Melbourne. Pakistan leveled the series when it won the second match by nine wickets in Adelaide when Australia was bowled out for 163 with Haris Rauf taking 5-29.

As a result, Rizwan had no hesitation in choosing to bowl when the he won the toss Sunday. Naseem Shah dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk in the fourth over, Rauf dismissed Aaron Hardie in the seventh and Shaheen Shah Afridi removed Aidan Hardie in the 11th and from there Australian wickets fell at regular intervals.

Shaheen finished with 3-32, Naseem took 3-34 and Rauf took 2-24 from seven overs as Australia was bowled out for its lowest total at home in a decade.

The Australia batters looked particularly vulnerable against the short ball on a lively pitch and allrounder Cooper Connolly retired hurt on 7 after being struck in the hand by Mohammad Hasnain.

Fraser-McGurk and Short struggled for form in the first two matches, sharing partnerships of 19 in the first match and 21 in the second. They started positively this time, taking 12 runs from the first over but were separated with the total on 20 when Fraser-McGurk was caught at second slip by Rizwan from Naseem’s bowling.

Hardie reached 12 from 13 balls when he also edged to second slip from Shaheen, who caused a ball to nip away off the seam.

Josh Inglis captained Australia for the first time in his home town and came to the crease after learning he had been included in Australia’s 13-man squad for the first test against India. His celebrations were cut short when he skied an attempted pull off Naseem to Rizwan when on 7.

“It's disappointing. We just didn't get enough runs on the board,” Inglis said.

Short grafted his way to 22 from 30 balls and then picked out square leg from Rauf’s bowling when Australia was 72-4. Connolly retired hurt with the total on 79 and Glenn Maxwell also fell to Rauf on that total for a duck.

The rest followed in procession but for Sean Abbott who made a defiant 30 from 41 balls and had support from Spencer Johnson who finished 12 not out.

Sunday's win was a major confidence boost to Pakistan as it prepares to host the ICC Champions Trophy tournament early next year.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Pakistan's not out batters Mohammad Rizwan, left, and Babar Azam smile after their win in their one day international cricket match against Australia in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's players celebrate after their win in their one day international cricket match against Australia in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Australia's Sean Abbott bats against Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Australia's Cooper Connolly, right, walks off as he retires hurt during their one day international cricket match against Pakistan in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's Naseem Shah, right, is congratulated by teammate Salman Ali Agha after taking the wicket of Australia's Jake Fraser-McGurk during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi bowls to Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi tumbles over the boundary while fielding against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Australia's Cooper Connolly, second right, walks off as he retires hurt during their one day international cricket match against Pakistan in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Australia's Marcus Stoinis avoids a high delivery from Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan, right, and Salman Ali Agha celebrate the wicket of Australia's Marcus Stoinis, left, during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub Alyson the ground after a failed catches attempt against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Australia's Adam Zampa throws his head back after he is caught out by Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's Shaheen Shah Afridi prepares to bowl to Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's batting partners Saim Ayub, left, and Abdullah Shafique touch bats between deliveries from Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub bats against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub falls over while batting against Australia during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Australia's Adam Zampa kneels after dropping a catch against Pakistan during their one day international cricket match in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Pakistan's Saim Ayub, second right, calls for assistance after he was struck by a ball during their one day international cricket match against Australia in Perth, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Trevor Collens)

Australia's Glenn Maxwell plays a shot during the second one day international cricket match between Australia and Pakistan in Adelaide, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

Pakistan's Hasan Ali, right, celebrates the wicket of Australia's Glenn Maxwell during their one day international cricket match in Adelaide, Australia, Friday, Nov. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/James Elsby)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has dusted off his golf clubs in an attempt to forge a bond with President-elect Donald Trump, an avid golf lover.

The presidential office said Tuesday that Yoon began practicing the game for the first time in eight years in preparation for a possible round of golf with Trump.

Since his election, Trump’s “America first” approach has raised concerns it could negatively affect the U.S. defense commitment to South Korea and hurt the trade interests of the Northeast Asian country in various ways, including increased tariffs.

Some experts say it’s important to build a close personal friendship with Trump during the transition period before he formally takes office in January.

“Much could depend on whether Yoon is able to strike up positive chemistry with Trump immediately during the transition and foster a close personal friendship to convince him to want to support and advance Seoul’s interests,” said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington.

Yoon and Trump discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation and agreed to hold an in-person meeting soon during a phone call on Thursday. The South Korean president told reporters later that while things couldn't remain the same as under the Biden administration, "we have been preparing to hedge these risks for a long time.”

And apparently, a game of golf may be what's needed.

Local media said Yoon went to a Seoul golf course on Saturday, but the presidential office said it couldn't confirm the reports.

A senior presidential official, speaking on condition of anonymity in a background briefing, said that while he didn’t know how hard Yoon practiced golf, training was necessary as “our president also has to hit a ball properly to get conversations going on” with Trump, who has “outstanding” golf skills.

Yoon isn’t the first world leader to try to use golf to develop relations with Trump.

When he was in office, Japan’s assassinated prime minister, Shinzo Abe, struck up a personal friendship with then-President Trump, on the greens of golf clubs both in Japan and the U.S. In 2017, Abe said that a round of golf with Trump was a good chance to relax and discuss difficult issues.

FILE - Former President Donald Trump plays during the pro-am round of the Bedminster Invitational LIV Golf tournament in Bedminster, NJ., on July 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

FILE - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol answers a reporters' question during a news conference at the Presidential Office in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024. (Kim Hong-Ji/Pool Photo via AP, File)