SYED Fariduddin produced a decisive all-round performance as Pakistan defeated Australia by one wicket in a tense finish to the 2026 IMC Masters O40s World Cup final at the National Stadium, Providence, on Saturday.
Fariduddin claimed four for 40 to help restrict Australia to 281 for six, then returned to score an unbeaten 24 from 16 balls as Pakistan completed their chase with one delivery remaining.
His contribution capped a determined recovery from Pakistan, who slipped to 36 for four before reaching 282 for nine in 44.5 overs to secure the title in Guyana.
Adnan Akmal and Jawad Mansoor laid the foundation for the comeback with a sixth-wicket partnership of 115. Akmal scored 83 from 84 balls, hitting 10 fours and a six, while Mansoor struck seven fours and a six in his 62 from 57 deliveries.
Their efforts revived a chase that had been threatened by Jamie Panelli’s early burst. The Australian bowler removed Fahad Jabbar for one, Imran Khan for three and Tofeeq Umer for 11 before Brenton Edwards dismissed Sheharyar Ghani for eight.
Tariq Mahmood offered resistance with 41 from 46 balls, including eight fours, before captain Steve Paulsen dismissed him at 103 for five.
Akmal and Mansoor then brought Pakistan back into the contest, but Australia regained ground when Edwards removed Akmal at 218 for six and Panelli dismissed Mansoor at 236 for seven.
Waseem Ali kept the chase moving with 22 from 17 balls, while Fariduddin struck two sixes during his unbeaten innings. Two late run-outs heightened the tension, with Ali departing at 278 for eight and Muhammad Khalil following at 280 for nine.
Pakistan needed two runs from the last three deliveries. Fariduddin and captain Junaid Nainitalwala, who finished unbeaten on one, carried them over the line.
Panelli finished with four for 48 from 8.5 overs, Edwards took two for 56 and Paulsen claimed one for 45.
Australia’s innings had been built around Greg Hunt’s century after they won the toss and chose to bat. Hunt scored 103 from 102 balls, striking four fours and six sixes, and shared a third-wicket stand of 128 with Paulsen.
The Australian captain contributed 70 from 76 balls, including five fours, after opener Glen Batticciotto had provided early momentum with 46 from 43 deliveries. Batticciotto hit four fours and three sixes, while fellow opener Ryan Broad made 13.
Fariduddin dismissed both openers before returning to remove Hunt and Edwards late in the innings. Waseem Ali supported him with two for 64.
Steven Spoljaric remained unbeaten on 17, while Matthew Weaver made eight and Edwards added two. Australia also benefitted from 22 extras, but their total ultimately proved just short in a final decided in the closing deliveries.
