Nawaz wrecks Australia as Pakistan complete whitewash in the three-match T20I series
By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: And it was indeed the kind of rhythm which Pakistan needed before going to the ICC T20 World Cup. The Green-shirts on Sunday completed a whitewash of Australia in the three match T20I series by inflicting a 111-run win over the visitors at the jam-packed Gaddafi Stadium Lahore.
This is the second time in seven years that Pakistan white-washed Australia in the three-match series. Pakistan had done this way back in 2018 when they had hosted Australia in the UAE. This is also the first series win against Australia since Pakistan whitewashed them in 2018.
However, in November 2024, Australia had whitewashed Pakistan in Australia in the three-match series.
Saim Ayub (56), Babar Azam (50 not out) and Shadab Khan (46) did well with the bat to enable Pakistan post 207-6 in the allotted 20 overs.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz then captured 5-18 to fold Australia for just 96 in the 17th over. This is also the best bowling performance from any Pakistani bowler against Aussies. This is also the biggest victory from the Green-shirts over Australia.
Saim Ayub and Babar Azam were the cornerstone of Pakistan’s batting. They consolidated the innings after Pakistan lost two early wickets. The duo shared 69 runs for the third wicket stand which paved the way for scoring a solid total.
It was left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann who broke the partnership when he had Saim Ayub. It was a delivery which pitched on the right area, Saim went for a big hit towards onside but failed to time it well with Matt Renshaw taking a stunning catch after covering a big distance.
Saim, who scored his sixth fifty from 30 balls, smashed two sixes and six fours in his 37-ball 56. Saim also hit spinner Cooper Connolly for three successive fours in the third over which fetched 13 runs.
Young Khawaja Nafay, who was put in the team in place of Usman Khan, joined Babar. Nafay, playing his second T20I, showed some spark, hitting a rapid 12-ball 21, featuring two sixes and one four before being removed by spinner Cooper Connolly.
Shadab Khan then joined Babar and he made lusty hitting in the end. He smacked Cooper Connolly for two successive sixes in the 18th over which yielded 15 runs. He then hammered Ben Dwarshuis for two successive sixes in the 19th over before being dismissed by the left-armer in the same over.
Shadab hit 19-ball 46, hammering five sixes and two fours. He dominated 57 runs fifth wicket stand with Babar.
Babar, who had not batted well in the previous two games, was able to complete his 39th T20I fifty off 36 balls. Babar struck one six and three fours in his solid unbeaten knock as Pakistan reached 207-6, which is also the best total against Aussies.
Earlier after opting to bat first once again Pakistan had a shaky start when off-spinner Matthew Short got rid of Fakhar Zaman in the second over. Fakhar came down the wicket to a delivery that pitched a bit short and he wanted to hit it over long-on but failed to time it well and it went straight to Cameron Green who took an easy catch.
Fakhar hit two fours in his seven- ball ten.
Salman Ali Agha, who had done a great job in the previous two games, joined Saim Ayub but it was not his day as left-arm pacer Ben Dwarshuis got rid of him, held by Cameron Green at mid-on. Agha hit one four in his three-ball five.
Pakistan were 55-2 in the powerplay. They reached 97-2 in ten overs and were 137-4 in 15 overs.
In the last five overs they scored 70.
Ben Dwarshuis was the pick of the bowlers with 2-39 in four overs. Matthew Kuhnemann, Matthew Short, Cooper Connolly and Cameron Green got one wicket each.
Australia’s response was a rehearsal of the previous two games. Ace-pacer Shaheen Afridi bowled Mitchell Marsh (1) in the first over. Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz then had Matthew Short (2) before Shaheen clean bowling Matt Renshaw (1) to leave the visitors gasping at 16-3 in the third over.
Cameron Green and Marcus Stoinus then tried to bring stability. They added 44 runs for the fourth wicket association before they both were removed by Mohammad Nawaz in one over to leave Australia at 63-5 in ten overs.
Stoinis hit three fours in his 22-ball 23 while Green struck two fours in his 24-ball 22.
Nawaz continued to destroy Australia as he got rid of Josh Phillippe (14) and Cooper Connolly (1) in the 14th over to reduce them to 82-7. Mohammad Abrar then sent Mitchell Owen back for just eight before Naseem Shah removed Matthew Kuhnemann for just five to reduce Australia to 96-9. Zampa did not come to bat due to fitness issues.
Nawaz was ably backed by Shaheen Afridi who captured 2-16 in three overs. Pakistan won the first game by 22 runs and it was followed by a huge 90 runs win in the second show. Nawaz was adjudged as man of the match for his superb bowling.
