ISLAMABAD: Pakistan defeated Australia 3-0 to win the Sarsabz Volleyball Series in the second match at the Liaqat Gymnasium of Pakistan Sports Complex on Wednesday.
The hosts, who won the opener of the three-match series on Tuesday, continued their impressive performance to clinch the series.
After a tight match, Pakistan won the first set 26-24. Continuing their momentum, the home team won the second set 25-19.
However, despite a spirited third set, Australia lost 25-23 to hand the hosts the series victory.
The final match of the series will be played at the same venue on Thursday.
Pakistan were plagued by a lack of reserves in the second match as four key players, including captain Murad Jehan, Usman Farhad, Kashif Naveed and Musawar Khan, did not play.
“I'm very happy. It's very special for us to beat Australia, one of the strongest teams. Today, myself and three other senior players chose not to play as we wanted to give our reserve players a chance. [new players] It was a great performance,” Murad said. dawn After Pakistan won this series.
The captain said the series victory against Australia, following the recent victory in the six-nation Central Asian Games, would boost the national team's morale and help the players perform well in the AVC Challenge Cup, which starts on June 2 in Bahrain.
“[Presently] “Our team is very well-balanced and in good form so we are optimistic of qualifying for the AVC Challenge Cup final,” Murad said, adding that the team would give it their all to win the final match of the Australian series.
Published in Dawn on May 30, 2024
