Australia secured a comprehensive 3-0 series victory over Pakistan on Monday, defeating the visitors by seven wickets in the third and final T20I at Bellerive Oval.
Chasing a modest target of 118, Australia reached the target with ease, finishing their innings at 118/3 in just 11.2 overs, with 52 balls to spare.
The hosts’ chase got off to a shaky start as both openers, Jake Fraser-McGurk (2) and Matthew Short (18), were dismissed early, leaving Australia at 30/2 after four overs.
However, skipper Josh Inglis and Marcus Stoinis steadied the innings with a crucial 55-run partnership for the third wicket. Inglis made 27 off 24 balls, hitting four boundaries, before being dismissed in the 10th over.
Following Inglis' departure, Stoinis took charge, leading Australia to victory with an explosive knock. He remained unbeaten on 67 from just 27 balls, smashing five sixes and as many fours, and guided his team home.
For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Jahandad Khan, and Abbas Afridi each claimed one wicket, but the total was insufficient to halt the Australian chase.
First innings
Earlier, Pakistan were dismissed for a meager 117 runs in their third and final T20I against Australia at the Bellerive Oval on Monday, as the hosts put on a clinical fielding display to wrap up the innings in just 18 overs.
Opting to bat first, Pakistan struggled to build partnerships, losing wickets at regular intervals.
The opening pair of Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam failed to provide a solid foundation. Farhan was dismissed for 9 off 7 balls in the second over, leaving Pakistan on the back foot early.
Babar and Haseebullah Khan briefly steadied the innings, adding 44 runs for the second wicket. However, the partnership was broken in the seventh over when Haseebullah was dismissed by Adam Zampa for 24 off 19 balls, including three boundaries.
Pakistan’s middle order collapsed soon after, with Usman Khan (3), Salman Ali Agha (1), and Babar (41) departing in quick succession.
Babar, the top scorer for Pakistan, hit four fours in his 28-ball knock before being bowled out by Zampa in the 13th over.
The visitors were further reduced to 92/7, with two more wickets falling in the following over. Shaheen Shah Afridi provided some resistance with a brief 16-run cameo, including two fours and a six, but once he was dismissed, Pakistan’s innings quickly fell apart.
They were bowled out for 117 after adding just one more run to their total.
Australia's bowlers, led by Zampa, exploited the conditions and showed remarkable discipline in the field to restrict Pakistan to a modest total. The hosts will now look to capitalize on the strong performance as they chase down the target in the final match of the series.
Babar Azam’s brief innings came to a halt on 41 runs as Pakistan lost their fifth wicket in the ongoing T20I against Australia.Babar Azam scored 41 runs from 28 balls, hitting four boundaries, but was bowled by Adam Zampa.
Usman Khan scored just 1 run from 9 balls before being caught by Nathan Ellis off Aaron Hardie, who also trapped Captain Salman Ali Agha lbw for 1 run from 8 balls. Irfan Khan was run out by Spencer Johnson without scoring.
Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan fell early, caught by Xavier Bartlett off the bowling Spencer Johnson. He scored 9 runs off 7 balls.
Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat in the final T20I of their series against Australia at Bellerive Oval, with Salman Ali Agha making his debut as captain.
In a key decision, Pakistan made a few changes for the dead rubber. Captain Mohammad Rizwan will be rested for this game, and Agha Salman, who was recently named as Rizwan’s deputy in white-ball cricket, will take over as the captain for the first time in his career.
Salman will be leading the team in his debut match as Pakistan's T20I captain.
Additionally, fast bowler Naseem Shah has been excluded from the playing XI. In his place, the team has brought in left-arm pacer Jahandad Khan. This change aims to provide fresh options in the bowling department as Pakistan looks to end the series on a high note.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan(w), Usman Khan, Agha Salman(c), Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
Australia Squad: Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis(w/c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa, Josh Philippe, Sean Abbott
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