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Babar Azam reached an unbeaten 50 as Pakistan crushed Australia to complete a three-game sweep in their T20 series. Photo: AFP
LAHORE:
Saim Ayub and Babar Azam hit half-centuries and Mohammad Nawaz took five wickets as Pakistan thrashed Australia by 111 runs to sweep the T20 series 3-0 on Sunday.
Ayub hit 56 off 37 balls at the top of the order and Azam added an unbeaten 50 as Pakistan scored 207-6 before Nawaz’s career-best 5-18 helped defeat Australia for 96 in Lahore.
The series gives Pakistan another T20 whitewash of Australia, following a 2-0 win in 2010 and a 3-0 sweep in 2018, providing a timely boost ahead of next week’s T20 World Cup. The tournament, jointly organized by India and Sri Lanka, begins on February 7.
Australia, who lost the first match by 22 runs and the second by 90, were shaken early when Shaheen Shah Afridi bowled captain Mitchell Marsh for one.
Nawaz removed the other opener, Matthew Short, cheaply and also factored in Cameron Green (22) and Marcus Stoinis (23). Shaheen, who won 2-16, bowled Matt Renshaw as Australia slipped to 63-5.
Nawaz then dismissed Josh Philippe for 14 and Cooper Connolly scoreless to improve on his previous best T20I figures of 5-19 against Afghanistan in Sharjah last year.
Captain Salman Agha praised his team’s performance in the series. “We’ve been excellent in every aspect; I can’t find any fault,” Agha said. “We dominated them. I’m in a great frame of mind at the moment. I know how to handle captaincy when I go out to bat and I really want to do it in the World Cup too.”
Marsh admitted his team had not been good enough. “Pakistan certainly outplayed us throughout the series. As I said yesterday, there are learnings for us in this series,” Marsh said.
Pakistan, who won the toss and batted for the third consecutive time, were led by Ayub and Azam. Once opener Fakhar Zaman scored 10 and Agha five, Ayub and Azam stabilized the innings during their third-wicket stand of 69 off 45 balls.
Ayub smashed two sixes and six fours in his sixth T20I fifty, while Azam’s knock included a six and three fours. Shadab Khan started the innings with an incredible 46 off just 19 balls, hammering five sixes and two fours while adding 57 off 28 deliveries with Azam. Pakistan amassed 70 runs in the last five overs to reach a commanding total.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the players, team management and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the historic victory.
In a statement, President Zardari described the series triumph as a reflection of the collective hard work, professional preparation and disciplined approach of the national team. “The victory in the T20 series is a result of the responsibility, harmony and trust shown by our players on the field,” he said, adding that the PCB, particularly president Mohsin Naqvi, deserved special praise for guiding the team to success.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also praised the team for displaying extraordinary skills and teamwork in all departments of the game – batting, bowling and fielding. “The national players demonstrated exceptional dedication, discipline and passion, which led them to win all the matches in the series,” he stated. He further paid tribute to the PCB president, the players and the team management, expressing hope that Pakistan’s winning streak will continue in the future.
