SYDNEY – Australia completed its clean sweep against Pakistan on the final day of third Test match at Sydney as it routed Pakistan by 220 runs.
In response to Australia’s target of 464, Pakistan’s batting line up hardly made it to 244 in 81 overs thus bagging another defeat.
The hosts had won the opening day-night test in Brisbane by 39 runs and the second test in Melbourne by an innings and 18 runs.
Only Sarfaraz Ahmed from Pakistan managed to make a fifty. He remained not out on 72 runs.
Josh Hazlewood and Steve O’Keefe each took 3 wickets while Nathan Lyon bagged two important wickets making it difficult for Pakistan to bag a face-saving draw. David Warner was declared ‘Man of the match’.
What adds insult to the injury of Pakistan is the fact that Sydney’s defeat was 12 consecutive Test defeat and 4th consecutive white wash in Australia.
Pakistan’s ranking dropped to 5th in test format, although Pakistan was at number 3 before touring New Zealand and Australia.
Meanwhile, at the presentation ceremony, Pakistan’s skipper Misbah Ul Haq lauded Azhar Ali and Asad Shafiq for their extraordinary performance. He maintained that Australia performed really well in the series.
‘It was a tough series for Pakistan’ Misbah said.
“Our bowling has always been our strength but bit disappointed that we couldn’t take 20 wickets in any Test match here.” he added.
Pakistan lost important wickets like veteran batsman Younis Khan (13) and Azhar Ali (11) on the decisive fifth day.
Pakistan would now gear up for five One Day Internationals against Australia to begin from January 13.
