DUBAI: Opener Babar Azam struck a half-century and leg-spinner Shadab Khan claimed three wickets as Pakistan secured a 3-0 T20 series whitewash over Australia with a 33-run victory in Dubai on Sunday.
Azam's 40-ball 50 lifted Pakistan to another challenging total of 150-5 before Shadab's 3-19 helped bowl Australia out for 117 in 19.1 overs.
It is Pakistan's first-ever whitewash against Australia in a limited-over series and their 10th series win under Sarfraz Ahmed since he took over as captain in September 2016.
Pakistan justified their world-number-one ranking in the shortest format of the game, following a 66-run thrashing in Abu Dhabi with an 11-run win in Dubai.
Australia's batting line-up never recovered from being bowled out for 89 in the first game.
Only Mitchell Marsh (21), Ben McDermott (21) and Alex Carey (20) looked like getting big scores on Sunday against a varied Pakistan attack.
Carey, promoted to open the innings, smashed two fours and two sixes in Imad Wasim's first over of the innings but they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Skipper Aaron Finch failed yet again, scoring only one while Chris Lynn (15) and Glenn Maxwell (four) also inflicted little damage as seamer Hasan Ali finished with 2-14.
Sarfraz said the series win was "a reward for hard work".
"I would say that all the boys have worked hard in all facets, the result is just the reward," said Sarfraz.
"Whoever has got an opportunity has done well. We wanted to carry forward the momentum to the New Zealand series, the way we bowled and took our catches was superb tonight."
- 'We had our chances' -
Finch admitted it was disappointing to come up so short when chasing 151 to win.
"We had our chances in all three games," said Finch. "You back yourself while chasing under 150, you back your batsmen to get the side over the line but it didn't happen.
"Our bowling was very impressive all series, keeping them to below 150 was great. We're looking forward to a tough series against South Africa (at home)."
Earlier, Azam scored his second fifty of the series after the hosts had won the toss and batted.
Azam and Sahibzada Farhan gave Pakistan an excellent start -- their opening stand of 99 their highest against Australia in T20 internationals -- in 12.5 overs, but Pakistan could not capitalise on that start.
Farhan, dismissed for a first-ball duck in his only previous match against Australia in Harare in July, hit a 38-ball 39.
But after the openers, only Mohammad Hafeez managed to score freely during his 20-ball 32 not out.
Shoaib Malik scored 18 and became the second-highest run-scorer in T20 international history, passing New Zealand's Brendon McCullum.
Another New Zealander Martin Guptill is at the top of the charts with 2,271 runs in 75 matches -- 118 more than Malik.
Pakistan next play New Zealand in three Twenty20 internationals, three ODIs and three Tests, starting with the first Twenty20 in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
_______________________________________________________________________
Australia 117/all out in 19.1 overs (PAKISTAN 150/5)
Hasan Ali to Zampa, OUT
End of over 19: 117/9
Usman Khan to Lyon, 2 runs
Usman Khan to Lyon, no run
Usman Khan to Lyon, no run
Usman Khan to Lyon, 2 runs
Usman Khan to Zampa, 1 run
Usman Khan to Zampa, FOUR runs
End of over 18: Australia 108/9
Hasan Ali to Tye, OUT
Hasan Ali to Zampa, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Zampa, no run
Hasan Ali to Zampa, no run
Hasan Ali to Tye, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Tye, no run
End of over 17: Australia 106/8
Shadab Khan to Zampa, 1 run
Shadab Khanto Tye, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Zampa, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Tye, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Zampa, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Tye, 1 run, DROPPED
End of over 16: Australia 101/8
Usman Khan to Tye, 1 run
Usman Khan to Tye, no run
Usman Khan to Tye, no run
Usman Khan to Zampa, 1 run
Usman Khan to Nile, OUT, horrible mix up costs another run out
Usman Khan to Short, OUT
End of over 15: Australia 98/6
Shadab Khan to Short, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Short, FOUR
Shadab Khan to Short, no run
Shadab Khan to Marsh, OUT
Shadab Khan to Marsh, no run
Shadab Khan to Short, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Short, wide, 1 run
End of over 14: Australia 92/5
Hasan Ali to Marsh, no run
Hasan Ali to Marsh, no run
Hasan Ali to Short, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Short, no run
Hasan Ali to Short, no run
Hasan Ali to Marsh, 1 run
End of over 13: Australia 90/5
Mohammad Hafeez to Short, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Marsh, 1 run
Mohammad Hafeez to Marsh, no run
Mohammad Hafeez to Marsh, SIX
Mohammad Hafeez to Short, 1 run,
Mohammad Hafeez to Marsh, 1 run
End of over 12: Australia 81/5
Usman Khan to Marsh, 1 run
Usman Khan to Short, 1 run
Usman Khan to Short, no run
Shinwari to Short, no run
Shinwari to Marsh, 1 run
Shinwari to Marsh, no run
End of over 11: Australia 78/5
Shadab Khan to Marsh, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Short, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Short, no run, dropped
Shadab Khan to Marsh, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Marsh, no run
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, OUT
End of over 10: Australia 75/4
Usman Shinwari to Marsh, 2 runs
Usman Shinwari to Marsh, 2 runs
Usman Shinwari to Marsh, no run
Usman Shinwari to Marsh, no run
Usman Shinwari to Marsh, no run
Usman Shinwari to Marsh, 2 runs
Usman Shinwari to Maxwell, 1 run, NO BALL, It's a free hit
End of over 9: Australia 67/4
Imad Wasim to Maxwell, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Marsh, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Marsh, no run
Imad Wasim to Maxwell, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Maxwell,
Imad Wasim to Maxwell, no run, appeal for stumping sent to third umpire. Not out
End of over 8: Australia 64/3
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Mitchell Marsh, 1 run
Shadab Khan to McDermott, OUT, McDermott is run out
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, 1 run
Shadab Khan to McDermott, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Lynn, OUT
End of over 7: Australia 60/2
Imad Wasim to Lynn, 1 run
Imad Wasim to McDermott, 1 run
Imad Wasim to McDermott, FOUR
Imad Wasim to McDermott, no run
Imad Wasim to McDermott, no run
Imad WAsim to Lynn, DROPPED, 1 run
End of over 6: Australia 53/2
Hasan Ali to McDermott, no run
Hasan Ali to McDermott, SIX
Hasan Ali to McDermott, no run
Hasan Ali to McDermott, FOUR
Hasan Ali to McDermott, no run
Hasan Ali to McDermott, no run
End of over 5: Australia 43/2
Imad Wasim to Lynn, no run
Imad Wasim to Lynn, no run
Imad Wasim to McDermott, 1 run
Imad Wasim to McDermott, 2 runs
Imad Wasim to Lynn, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Lynn, no run
End of over 4: Australia 39/2
Faheem Ashraf to McDermott, no run
Faheem Ashraf to Lynn, 3 runs
Faheem Ashraf to Lynn, FOUR
Faheem Ashraf to McDermott, 1 run, leg bye
Faheem Ashraf to McDermott, no run
Faheem Ashraf to McDermott, no run
End of over 3: Australia 31/2
Hafeez to Lynn, FOUR
Hafeez to Lynn, no run
Hafeez to McDermott, 1 run
Hafeez to Lynn, 1 run
Hafeez to McDermott, 1 run
Pakistan back in the game after double strikes
Hafeez to Carey, OUT, leading edge and dangerous Carey is gone.
End of over 2: Australia 24/1
Faheem Ashraf to Lynn, no run
Faheem Ashraf to Finch, OUT
Faheem Ashraf to Finch, 2 leg byes
Faheem Ashraf to Carey, bye, 1 run
Faheem Ashraf to Carey, no run
Faheem Ashraf to Finch, 1 run
End of over 1: Australia 20/0
Imad Wasim to Carey, no run
Imad Wasim to Carey, FOUR
Imad Wasim to Carey, SIX, another six
Imad Wasim to Carey, SIX
Imad Wasim to Carey, FOUR
Imad Wasim to Carey, no run
Australia need 151 to avoid series whitewash against Pakistan
Babar Azam stuck another fifty as Pakistan made 15/5 in their 20 overs against Australia in the third and last Twenty20 International at Dubai Cricket Stadium in UAE on Sunday.
End of over 20: Pakistan 150/5
Tye to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run
Tye to Imad Wasim, 1 run,
Tye to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run
Tye to Imad Wasim, 1 run
Tye to Imad Wasim, no run
End of over 19: Pakistan 145/5
Marsh to Mohammad Hafeez, 2 runs
Marsh to Mohammad Hafeez, 2 runs
Marsh to Faheem Ashraf, OUT
Marsh to Hafeez, 1 run
Marsh to Asif, OUT
Marsh to Hafeez, 1 run
End of over 18: Pakistan 139/3
Tye to Asif Ali, FOUR
Tye to Asif Ali, no run
Tye to Hafeez, 1 run
Tye to Mohammad Hafeez, no run
Tye to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR
Tye to Mohammad Hafeez, FOUR
End of over 17: Pakistan 126/3
Zampa to Asif Ali, no run
Zampa to Asif Ali, no run
Zampa to Shoaib Malik, OUT
Zampa to Shoaib Malik, FOUR runs
Zampa to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run
Zampa to Mohammad Hafeez, no run
End of over 16: Pakistan 121/2
Nile to Malik, 2 runs
Nile to Malik, 2 runs
Nile to Hafeez, 1 run
Nile to Mohammad Hafeez, no run
Nile to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
Nile to Shoaib Malik, FOUR
End of over 15: Australia 111/2
Short to Malik, 1 run
Short to Hafeez, 1 run
Short to Hafeez, SIX
Short to Malik, 1 run
Short to Hafeez, 1 run
Short to Malik, 1 run
End of over 14: Pakistan 100/2
Tye to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
Tye to Mohammad Hafeez, 1 run
Tye to Mohammad Hafeez, no run
Tye to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
Tye to Shoaib Malik, no run
Tye to Babar Azam, OUT, chops on
End of over 13: Pakistan 97/1
Lyon to Hafeez, FOUR
Lyon to Farhan, OUT, Farhan departs
Lyon to Babar, 1 run, Its's fifty for Babar Azam off 39 balls
Lyon to Farhan, 1 run
Lyon to Farhan, no run
Lyon to Babar, 1 run
End of over 12: Pakistan 90/0
Zampa to Farhan, 2 runs
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run
Zampa to Farhan, 1 run
Zampa to Farhan, no run
Zampa to Farhan, SIX, SLOG SWEEP GOES FOR SIX
Zampa to Farhan, no run
End of over 11: Pakistan 80/0
Short to Farhan, 1 run
Short to Farhan, no run, big appeal for LBW
Short to Babar, 1 run
Short to Babar, wide, 1 run
Short to Babar, 2 runs
Short to Babar, no run
Short to Farhan, 1 run
End of over 10: Pakistan 74/0
Zampa to Farhan, 1 run
Zampa to Farhan, no run
Zampa to Babar, 1 run
Zampa to Farhan, 1 run
Zampa to Farhan, wide, 1 run
Zampa to Babar, 1 run
Zampa to Babar, no run
End of over 9: Pakistan 69/0
Short to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Short to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Short to Babar Zam, 1 run
Short to Babar Azam, no run
Short to Babar Azam, 2 runs
Short to Babar Azam, no run
End of over 8: Pakistan 66/0
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run
Zampa to Sahibzada Farhan, 1 run
Zampa to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run
Zampa to Sahibzada Farhan, 1 run
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run
Adam Zampa gets the bowl
End of over 7: Pakistan 61/0
Short to Babar Azam, 1 run
Short to Sahibzada Farhan, 1 run
Short to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Short to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Short to Babar Azam, 1 run
Short to Babar Azam, FOUR
End of over 6: Pakistan 54/0
Tye to Sahibzada Farhan, SIX, slow ball dispatched to six
Tye to Babar Azam, 1 run
Tye to Sahibzada Farhan, 1 run
Tye to Babar Azam, 1 run
Tye to Babar Azam, no run
Tye to Babar Azam, no run
End of over 5: Pakistan 45/0
Big over for Pakistan as 15 runs accumulated.
Lyon to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Lyon to Sahibzada Farhan, FOUR
Lyon to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Lyon to Sahibzada Farhan, SIX
Lyon to Babar Azam, 1 run
Lyon to Babar Azam, FOUR
End of over 4: Pakistan 30/0
Nile to Babar Azam, 1 run
Nile to Babar Azam, 2 runs
Nile to Babar Azam, SIX, first six of the inning. Babar is the man in form. Great shot using the pace and going over the top for maximum.
Nile to Sahibzada Farhan, 1 run
Nile to Babar Azam, 1 run
Nile to Babar Azam, FOUR, Babar is in top form.
End of over 3: Pakistan 15/0
Lyon to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Lyon to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Lyon to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Lyon to Babar Azam, 1 run
Lyon to Babar Azam, FOUR, uppish sweep shot goes over the line for boundary.
Lyon to Babar Azam, no run
End of over 2: Pakistan 10/0
Good over for Australia. Just four runs given
Nile to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
Nile to Sahibzada Farhan, no run, beautiful bowling
Nile to Sahibzada Farhan, no run, another good delivery
Nile to Sahibzada Farhan, FOUR, nervous shot goes for four.
Nile to Sahibzada Farhan, no run, good pace and swing. Narrowly missed the nick.
Nile to Sahibzada Farhan, no run
NATHAN COULTER-Nile gets the ball
End of over 1: Pakistan 6/0
Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, no run
Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, no run
Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, wide, 1 run
Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, FOUR, Pakistan off to the mark.
Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, no run
Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, no run, down the wicket and misses the ball completely.
Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, wide, 1 run
Nathan Lyon to Babar Azam, no run
Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam are in the middle to open the batting for Pakistan. Nathan Lyon has the bowl
Australia are playing for pride while Pakistan will look to whitewash the series. Pakistan have never whitewashed Australia. So a lot to look forward to.
DUBAI: Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the third and final Twenty20 International at Dubai International Cricket in UAE on Sunday.
For Pakistan, Shinwari and Farhan in, Shaheen Afridi and Fakhar out. Farhan is one to watch out for. Good that he's been given a chance.
Australia have made two changes -Nathan Lyon in, Billy Stanlake out
Pakistan XI: Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt ,wk), Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Usman Khan Shinwari
Australia XI: Aaron Finch (capt), Alex Carey (wk), Chris Lynn, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, D'Arcy Short, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon
After defeating Australia in the second T20 International of the 3-match series, Pakistan will now be looking to edge their rivals and complete a whitewash when they clash in the final game at Dubai International Stadium today.
The match will start at 09:00 pm and The News will cover it live.
On Friday night, Pakistan survived an onslaught by big hitter Glenn Maxwell to win by 11 runs in a last-over finish.
ICC Preview: Coulter-Nile has been impressive with the bat, and that bodes well for Australia. He could go a long way towards adding batting depth to the Australian limited-overs side, and they will hope to see further evidence of his all-round abilities on Sunday. Their bowlers will look to exploit Pakistan's weakness with the bat. Only Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez have made major contributions so far. If Australia can dismiss one of them early, they could restrict Pakistan to an even lower total. Pakistan need their seniors, like Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed, to guide by example in the middle-order. Lower down, Ashraf, who has been excellent with the ball in his short international career so far, has been less than impressive with the bat. He will want to get into the skin of a true all-rounder.
Maxwell hit a chancy 37-ball 52 with four boundaries and a six but could not score the 23 runs required in the final over as Australia — chasing 148 to win — ended up at 136-8 in their 20 overs.
Pakistan were lifted to 147-6 by Babar Azam (45) and Mohammad Hafeez (40) after Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and opted to bat.
The hosts had won the first match by 66 runs.
Pakistan’s bowling seems to be getting stronger by the day, with youngsters like Shaheen Afridi and Shadab Khan coming to the party. Imad Wasim, in particular, has been extra-ordinary. He followed up his four-for in the first game with a miserly spell of 4-1-8-1 in the second.
Meanwhile, Australia need to find a quick-fix to their top-order problems if they are to eke out a consolation victory. Their batting has been an issue, especially on slower wickets. Despite Glenn Maxwell’s 52, Australia still faltered in a modest chase of 147 after the top three managed just 12 runs between them.
After the debacle in the first game, Aaron Finch said he had to shoulder the responsibility for Australia’s failure at the top. However, he was unable to turn things around in the second ODI, falling for a 10-ball 3. D’Arcy Short and Chris Lynn didn’t get past single-digit scores either.
But in the bowling department, Australia have looked solid. Nathan Coulter-Nile, who seemed like the only weak-link in the first game, turned things around completely to take 3-18.
Coulter-Nile has also been impressive with the bat, and that bodes well for the Aussies. He could go a long way towards adding batting depth to the Australian limited-overs side, and they will hope to see further evidence of his all-round abilities on Sunday.
Australia will look to exploit Pakistan’s weakness with the bat. Only Babar and Hafeez have made major contributions so far.
Pakistan need their seniors, like Shoaib Malik and Sarfraz Ahmed, to guide by example in the middle-order. Lower down, Faheem Ashraf, who has been excellent with the ball in his short international career so far, has been less than impressive with the bat. He will want to get into the skin of a true all-rounder. The conditions are expected to be warm and dry, but there is a small possibility of showers.
Board selects right-arm pacer for Ireland, England tours despite him not featuring in any T20I since Sep 2022
Pakistan will face Ireland, and England in three and four-match T20I series this month
Fraudsters launder millions through WhatsApp scam in Spain
PCB suggests hosting all the group matches involving the neighbouring country's team within a single city
Antonela Roccuzzo, Brittany Mahomes, Taylor Swift, more make WAGs list
Al Nassr player not sold to Real Madrid by this famous team
