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Babar Azam made an unbeaten 50 as Pakistan crushed Australia to complete a three-game sweep of 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 posted 207-6 before spinner Nawaz’s career-best 5-18 helped bowl out Australia for 96 in Lahore.
The series gives Pakistan another T20 whitewash of Australia after 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 hosted by India and Sri Lanka, begins on February 7.
Australia, who lost the first match by 22 runs and the second by 90, were rocked early when skipper Mitchell Marsh was run out by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Nawaz removed fellow opener Matthew Short cheaply and also accounted for Cameron Green (22) and Marcus Stoinis (23). Shaheen, who took 2-16, bowled Matt Renshaw as Australia slumped to 63-5.
Nawaz then dismissed Josh Philippe for 14 and Cooper Connolly not out to better his previous best T20I figures of 5-19 against Afghanistan in Sharjah last year.
Skipper Salman Agha praised his team’s performance in the series. “We have been excellent in all departments; I can’t find any fault,” Agha said. “We dominated them. I’m 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.”
Marsh admitted that his team had not been good enough. “Pakistan have definitely 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. As opener Fakhar Zaman went for 10 and Agha for five, Ayub and Azam steadied 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 ignited the innings with a blistering 46 off just 19 balls, hammering five sixes and two fours as he added 57 from 28 deliveries with Azam. Pakistan piled on 70 runs in the last five overs to climb to an impressive total.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the players, team management and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for the historic clean sheet.
In a statement, President Zardari described the series triumph as a reflection of the national team’s collective hard work, professional preparation and disciplined approach. “The clean sheet in the T20 series is a result of the responsibility, harmony and confidence shown by our players on the field,” he said, adding that the PCB, especially chairman 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 across all departments of the game – batting, bowling and fielding. “The national players showed exceptional dedication, discipline and passion which led to victories in all the matches of the series,” he said. He further paid tribute to the PCB chairman, players and team management and expressed hope that Pakistan’s winning streak would continue in the future.
