HOBART – Pakistan wrapped up their Australia tour with another batting collapse as the hosts won the third and final T20I by seven wickets to clean sweep the series on Monday.
After being 61 for one in the seventh over, Pakistan collapsed to 117 all-out in just over 18 overs – losing their nine wickets for 56 runs in little 11 overs. Australia demonstrated there were no demons in the wicket when they raced to victory for the loss of three wickets in 11.2 overs to wrap-up the series 3-0.
It was a strong comeback by Australia in the shortest format after Pakistan had outshined and outclassed the 50-over world champions, winning the series by 2-1.
Pakistan had started promisingly, reaching 58 for one after the PowerPlay over with Babar Azam and Haseebullah playing exquisite shots to find the fence as well as tucking good deliveries for ones and twos. But Haseebullah’s departure on the fifth ball of Adam Zampa’s first over started the riot as Pakistan collapsed to 117 all-out. Haseebullah scored a 19-ball 24 with three fours.
Babar Azam, who scored a sparkling 41 off 28 balls with four fours before becoming Zampa’s second scalp, was the fifth batter to be dismissed at the score 91. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s 12-ball 16 helped Pakistan to reach 117.
The young Pakistan batting found things tough against the fast bowlers with Aaron Hardie picking up three wickets for 21 runs and Spencer Johnson bagging two wickets for 24 runs.
In turn, Shaheen and debutant Jahandad Khan removed openers Matthew Short (2) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (18) at the score of 30, before Marcus Stoinis took control of the proceedings to belt five fours and five sixes in a rapid 27-ball 61 not out and steer his side home in 11.2 overs.
Such was the dominance of Stoinis that he scored 38 runs in the 55 runs third wicket partnership with Josh Inglis, while he scored 23 runs in 33 runs unbroken fourth wicket with Tim David, who contributed only seven off three balls.
Pakistan vs Australia Squads
Pakistan
Arafat Minhas, Babar Azam, Omair Yousuf, Irfan Khan, Agha Salman, Jahandad Khan, Haseebullah Khan, Mohammad Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Haris Rauf, Abbas Afridi, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.
Australia
Tim David, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Mathew Short, Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Sean Abbott, Josh Inglis, Xavier Bartlett, Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa
Australia thump Pakistan by 13 run to clinch T20I series 2-0
