3rd T20I
Aaron Hardie and Adam Zampa as well as Marcus Stoinis has delivered a commanding win
Pakistan scored 117 in 18.1 overs, where as Australia scored 118/3 in 11.2 overs.
So, finally Australia beat Pakistan by seven wickets.
A clinical bowling performance led by Aaron Hardie (3-21) and Adam Zampa (2-11), coupled with Marcus Stoinis’ explosive 61* off 27 balls, powered Australia to a dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the final T20I in Hobart.
Pakistan, opting to bat first, got off to a fast start, reaching 58/1 in the PowerPlay.
However, a dramatic collapse saw them finish with a meager total of 117.
Australia lost a few wickets in pursuit of the target, but the outcome was never in doubt.
Stoinis’ blistering knock ensured the match was wrapped up with 52 balls to spare.
Earlier, Pakistan seemed poised to post their best total of the series on a pitch ideal for stroke play.
Babar Azam began aggressively, with his signature flicks and cover drives, while Sahibzada Farhan also found the boundary.
However, Farhan’s dismissal, caught off a delivery that rose off the pitch from Spencer Johnson, marked the start of Pakistan’s downfall.
With regular captain Mohammad Rizwan resting, Pakistan brought in Haseebullah at No. 3, but the youngster’s nervy innings ended when he was dismissed by Zampa in the latter’s first over.
That breakthrough sparked a dramatic collapse, as Hardie and Zampa tightened the screws.
Hardie dismissed Usman Khan in the deep and trapped stand-in captain Agha Salman LBW.
Pakistan’s batters, eager to keep the run rate ticking on a good pitch, made poor decisions and lost wickets in quick succession.
Babar Azam was starved of the strike, and after looking fluent early on, his innings faltered.
Zampa then delivered the killer blow by bowling Babar out, leaving Pakistan’s hopes of posting a competitive total in tatters.
The tail wagged only briefly, with contributions from Jahandad Khan and Shaheen Afridi, but Pakistan’s total never looked likely to challenge Australia.
Australia’s chase got off to a rocky start with Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk both falling cheaply while attempting to accelerate the chase.
Short mistimed a lofted shot to extra cover, while Fraser-McGurk sliced a drive straight to point.
Stoinis, promoted to No. 4, came in and immediately took control.
Even as skipper Josh Inglis struggled to get going, Stoinis took charge.
Stoinis’ onslaught began with a 22-run over off Haris Rauf, which included two fours and two sixes, one of which cleared the boundary.
He followed that up with a 25-run over off Shaheen Afridi, smashing three sixes and a four.
Stoinis’ ball-striking was brutal and put the match well beyond Pakistan’s reach.
His scintillating innings guided Australia to a series sweep, winning 3-0 in style.
Leave a Reply