Australia bring in Connolly, opt to bat in series-deciding ODI against Pakistan

Australia won the toss and elected to bat in the third and final ODI against Pakistan at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, with the series currently level and the decider set to determine the winner.

The toss was delayed by 15 minutes after a heavy shower hit the venue roughly an hour before the scheduled start, although conditions improved in time for play.

The visitors made one change to their XI, with allrounder Cooper Connolly replacing legspinner Tanveer Sangha. Pakistan, meanwhile, retained the same side that featured in the second ODI.

Despite the match being played on a fresh surface, both captains expected spin to remain a major factor throughout the contest.

Australia skipper Josh Inglis said his side was confident after successfully defending 231 in the previous match, while Pakistan captain Shaheen Shah Afridi stressed that his bowlers would aim to keep Australia below the 200-run mark.

Pakistan had comfortably chased 200 in the opening ODI at Rawalpindi to take an early lead in the series before Australia bounced back in Lahore.

Strong winds and cooler conditions provided a more pleasant evening in Lahore compared to the previous game.

Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Maaz Sadaqat, Babar Azam, Ghazi Ghori (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Abdul Samad, Shadab Khan, Arafat Minhas, Shaheen Shah Afridi (capt), Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed

Australia XI: Matt Short, Josh Inglis (capt & wk), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Oliver Peake, Matt Kuhnemann, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa

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