In the third and final T20I of the series, hosts Australia delivered a dominant performance, defeating Pakistan by seven wickets in Hobart on Monday (November 18). The win sealed a 3-0 series whitewash for the Aussies.
Batting first, Pakistan were bowled out for a paltry 117 runs in 18.1 overs. Australia chased down the target comfortably, reaching 118/3 in just 11.2 overs, powered by a stunning innings from Marcus Stoinis.
Pakistan's Struggles with the Bat
Missing regular captain Mohammad Rizwan, Pakistan's batting lineup faltered early.
Openers Babar Azam and Sahibzada Farhan put up 17 runs before Farhan fell for just 9 to Spencer Johnson. Babar (41 off 28) and Haseebullah Khan (24) added 44 runs, but after Haseeb’s dismissal by Adam Zampa, Pakistan collapsed.
Middle-order batters Usman Khan (3) and Salman Agha (1) fell quickly to Aaron Hardie, and Babar was bowled by Zampa. The lower order offered little resistance, with only Irfan Khan (10) and Shaheen Afridi (16) reaching double digits. Hardie was the standout bowler, taking 3/21, while Johnson and Zampa claimed two wickets each.
Stoinis Storm in the Chase
Chasing 118, Australia lost Matthew Short (2) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (18) early but faced no significant hurdles. Marcus Stoinis, with an explosive 61* off 27 balls (5 fours, 5 sixes), anchored the chase. His 55-run stand with Josh Inglis and a quickfire 33-run partnership with Tim David in just 10 balls ensured a comfortable finish.
Stoinis unleashed his power in the 11th over, smashing Shaheen Afridi for three sixes and a four, amassing 25 runs off the over. The match ended in the next over when Abbas Afridi bowled a no-ball, confirming Australia’s win.
Awards and Highlights
- Player of the Match: Marcus Stoinis for his unbeaten 61.
- Player of the Series: Spencer Johnson for his 8 wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the second match.
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