New Delhi:
Pakistan had been embarrased by Sri Lanka heading into the series against Australia. The 3-0 whitewash of the side ranked No.1 in the format in their own backyard was a wake-up call for Pakistan but in Australia, they did not learn their lessons. After rain saved them in Sydney, they were outclassed by a masterful knock from Steve Smith in Canberra. In Perth, their humiliation was complete as they lost by 10 wickets in the third and final Twenty20 International at the New Perth Stadium to lose the series 0-2. This was the third time Pakistan had been thrashed by 10 wickets in the format while for Australia, this was their second 10-wicket loss.
Pakistan were never in the game once Australia won the toss and chose to bowl on a pacy wicket in Perth. Babar Azam, who has been the best Twenty20 Interntional batsman for Pakistan, was trapped LBW by Mitchell Starc for 6 and the left-arm pacer followed it up by getting rid of Mohammad Rizwan for a first-ball duck. When Sean Abbott got rid of Imam ul Haq for 14, all hopes rested on Iftikhar Ahmed who had impressed in the Canberra match.
Iftikhar got going with three boundaries off Starc but his partner Haris Sohail struggled. Ashton Agar ended Sohail's misery while Khushdil Shah, the debutant, also failed to impress when Kane Richardson sent him back for eight. Iftikhar continued on his merry ways and hit two fours off Richardson and he neared his fifty. However, Pakistan lost three quick wickets with Abbott getting rid of Imad Wasim. Richardson took Iftikhar's wicket and Shadab Khan in the same over and it felt like Pakistan would not reach 100.
Mohammad Hasnain hit a four and Mohammad Amir hit a six off Starc but Pakistan confounded the cricketing world when they managed just two runs in the final two overs. Hasnain, in particular, played out nine consecutive dot balls and Australia restricted them to 106/8. There was no such problems for Aaron Finch and David Warner and they demoralised Pakistan even further.
Warner got going with a six and Pakistan missed a run-out of Warner when the keeper missed with the direct hit. Finch hit two boundaries off Mohammad Musa while he targeted the bowler with a four and a six. The Australia skipper continued to find the boundary and he launched Hasnain for another big six. Warner hit two fours off Amir to ensure Australia ended the powerplay on 56/0.
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Pakistan continued to leak runs and both batsmen neared their fifties with a six. However, it was Finch who reached his fifty and sealed the game in grand style when he lofted Musa for a boundary to give Australia victory and the series. With this win, Australia have ensured that they end 2019 on a high in Twenty20 Internationals, having not lost a single game. They have swept away all the sub-continent powers and they will be building good momentum heading into the World T20 that will be played on their home turf.
