Pakistan completed a dominant clean sweep over Australia with a crushing victory in the third Twenty20 international on Sunday, inflicting the heaviest defeat Australia have ever suffered in the format just days before the T20 World Cup.
The 111 run margin surpassed Australia’s previous worst loss in a T20, which came against England at Southampton in 2005, and underlined Pakistan’s authority throughout the three match series. Australia were dismissed for 96 in 16.5 overs as they again struggled against spin, with Mohammad Nawaz producing a career best performance of 5-18.
The result capped a comprehensive 3-0 series win for Pakistan, who will head into the World Cup with growing confidence ahead of the tournament in India and Sri Lanka.
After winning the toss for the third straight match, Pakistan posted 207-6, their highest Twenty20 total against Australia. Captain Salman Ali Agha was emphatic in his assessment of the performance.
“From the last two days, we have been excellent in all departments, I can’t find any mistakes,” he said. “We dominated them. I am in a great frame of mind right now. I know how to handle the captaincy when I go out to bat and I really want to do that in the World Cup as well.”
Saim Ayub laid the platform with 56 from 57 balls, striking six fours and two sixes, while Babar Azam responded to recent scrutiny over his strike rate with a composed unbeaten 50 from 36 deliveries. The innings was accelerated late by Shadab Khan, whose explosive 46 from 19 balls included five sixes and transformed a solid position into a commanding one.
Ayub and Babar added 69 for the third wicket after early losses for Fakhar Zaman and captain Salman inside the power play. Ayub’s innings ended with a spectacular diving catch by Matt Renshaw at deep mid wicket, while Khawaja Nafay followed with a confident 21 from 12 balls after being selected as Pakistan’s backup wicketkeeper for the World Cup.
Babar, batting at No 4, anchored the innings as Pakistan scored 70 runs in the final five overs. He reached his half century in the last over, with Faheem Ashraf contributing two boundaries after Shadab edged Ben Dwarshuis, who finished with 2-39.
Australia’s chase unravelled quickly on a slow surface. Shaheen Shah Afridi set the tone by clean bowling Mitchell Marsh and Renshaw for one apiece in his opening spell, before Nawaz exploited the conditions to devastating effect.
Marcus Stoinis top scored with 23 on his first appearance of the series, while Cameron Green made 22, but both were bowled by Nawaz as the left arm spinner dismantled Australia’s experienced middle order. Nawaz completed his five wicket haul in his final over when Josh Philippe top edged a slog sweep to mid wicket and Khawaja Nafay stumped Cooper Connolly.
Green endured a difficult spell with the ball, conceding 43 runs from three overs as Pakistan passed 200 against Australia for the first time in a T20.
Australia captain Marsh acknowledged the scale of the challenge after the match.
“Pakistan certainly outplayed us throughout the whole series,” he said. “Chasing is hard on that surface… we will take learnings from that. We will certainly address this series and look forward to the World Cup.”
Pakistan had already secured the series with wins of 19 runs and 90 runs in the opening two matches, but Sunday’s emphatic result ensured the tour ended in complete dominance.
