Zampa, Stoinis trounce Pakistan to seal clean sweep
(11.2 overs, Target: 118) Score: 118 for 3 wickets.
Australia secured victory by 7 wickets, finishing the match with 52 balls to spare.
Outstanding Performer of the Game
Athlete of the Series
Stoinis' explosive innings of 61 runs off just 27 balls helped Australia chase down a small target with almost nine overs to spare.
Adam Zampa dismissed the star player, Babar Azam. • Getty Images
Australia chased down a target of 118 runs, finishing at 118 for 3 with Marcus Stoinis scoring an unbeaten 61 and Josh Inglis contributing 27 runs. Pakistan was bowled out for just 117, with Babar Azam top-scoring with 41 runs. Australia's bowlers performed impressively, with Hardie taking 3 wickets for 21 runs and Zampa claiming 2 wickets for 11 runs, leading to a 7-wicket victory for Australia.
Australia wrapped up their T20I series against Pakistan just as they had played throughout: with a commanding seven-wicket victory, clinching the series 3-0. Pakistan struggled, managing only 117 runs before being all out in 18.1 overs, with their last nine wickets falling for just 56 runs. Adam Zampa was instrumental in their downfall after the Powerplay, taking 2 wickets for 11 runs in four overs. Babar Azam, who was the top scorer with 41 runs off 28 balls, had initially put Pakistan in a decent position during the first six overs, when they stood at a solid 58 for 1.
Marcus Stoinis eliminated any doubts about the outcome of the game during the chase by hitting Haris Rauf for 22 runs in a single over. His impressive 61 runs off just 27 balls allowed Australia to reach the target with nearly nine overs remaining, despite Pakistan having a decent start in their efforts to defend a modest score. Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short were dismissed early, and Jahandad Khan's changing deliveries posed challenges for Australia during the powerplay. However, as Stoinis confirmed later, the visitors were only postponing the inevitable.
Pakistan approached the game with a strong determination, a stark contrast to their previous match against Australia where their intentions were unclear while chasing. Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed early on, but it was evident what Pakistan aimed to do: capitalize on the Powerplay. Even Babar, who typically starts off slowly, struck a boundary on his very first ball and continued in that aggressive manner. Haseebullah Khan was fortunate at times, with some edges reaching the boundary, but that was a result of his aggressive batting. Ultimately, Pakistan sped to 58 runs, marking their highest score in a Powerplay against Australia.
Zampa's flawless control and talent make him seem almost magical in this format. Today, he was a nightmare for Pakistan, effortlessly messing with the batters as he changed his pace, line, and style, leaving them constantly uncertain and guessing.
It only took him five deliveries to end Haseebullah's fortunate streak, with a shot outside off stump leading to a catch at short third man. In his third over, he dismissed Babar, who had been playing well, by altering the trajectory of his delivery as he noticed the batter charging down the pitch, effectively knocking over the stumps.
Even when he wasn't taking wickets, he was still creating a lot of pressure on the batsmen. Pakistan's temporary captain, Salman Ali Agha, faced five consecutive dot balls against him before he finally got relief when Aaron Hardie dismissed him in the next over. His impressive stats of 4 overs, 11 runs, and 2 wickets truly reflected his performance.
It's tough to demand that batsmen adopt a risky style of play when your squad lacks sufficient batting talent. Pakistan clearly communicated to their team that they wanted a bold approach right from the start, even from players who aren't typically aggressive. Usman Khan usually takes his time to settle in before launching an attack, but he came out swinging from his very first ball, attempting big shots even when they weren't feasible. This approach proved unsustainable, as evidenced by his dismissal on just his fourth delivery, which sparked a collapse within the Pakistan team.
Each time a player was dismissed, it became increasingly worrying for the visiting team due to their notably weak lower order. By the time the fifth wicket fell, they were essentially out of batters, with Abbas Afridi coming in at number seven. This issue also surfaced in the second match, highlighting a problem they need to address.
Australia finally takes control over Haris.
A recurring theme throughout this series has been Haris Rauf's ability to overpower any Australian batsman he faces. This has been particularly evident in his matchups with Glenn Maxwell. However, after the game, Stoinis mentioned that he told Haris that this was the one occasion where "one of us" managed to get the upper hand on him.
Stoinis delivered an incredible performance that captivated the audience. When the eighth over concluded, Australia was at 57 for 2, and Pakistan still felt they could introduce some tension into the match. However, in the ninth over, Stoinis unleashed his power, smashing Haris for two fours and two sixes in the first four balls, with one six sailing out of Bellerive Oval entirely. This sparked a surge of runs as Stoinis racked up 45 runs from his next 12 balls, including a massive 25-run over against Shaheen Afridi. The next over brought a twist when Abbas had Stoinis caught at deep square leg, but his foot had crossed the line. Australia finished strong, scoring 61 runs off the last 21 balls, sealing the match and the series.
Danyal Rasool serves as the Pakistan correspondent for ESPNcricinfo. You can find him on Twitter under the handle @Danny61000.
Australia secured victory by 7 wickets, finishing the match with 52 balls to spare.
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