Kamal Ghorui
Pakistan produced a commanding performance to hand Australia its heaviest ever defeat in T20 cricket, sealing a 3-0 series sweep just five days ahead of the T20 World Cup. On Sunday, the hosts defeated the Australians by 111 runs in the third and final match at a ground where spinners once again dominated. The victory surpassed Australia’s previous largest T20 loss, a 100-run defeat to England at Southampton in 2005. Electing to bat first, Pakistan posted a daunting 207-6, their highest-ever T20 total against Australia. Opener Saim Ayub contributed 56 off 57 balls, while Babar Azam, batting at the new No.4 position, anchored the innings with an unbeaten 50 off 36 deliveries. Shadab Khan then blazed 46 off 19 balls, hitting five sixes to take Pakistan past the 200-run mark.
Australia’s struggles against spin continued as left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz claimed a career-best 5-18 on a slow wicket. Earlier, Shaheen Shah Afridi cleaned up Australia’s top order, dismissing captain Mitchell Marsh and Matt Renshaw in his first two overs. Nawaz later removed Marcus Stoinis, Cameron Green, Josh Philippe, and Cooper Connolly to complete a five-wicket haul, leaving Australia all out for 96 in just 16.5 overs. Captain Salman Ali Agha praised his team’s performance. “From the last two days, we have been excellent in all departments, I can’t find any mistakes. 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,” he said. Australia captain Marsh admitted the visitors were outplayed throughout the series. “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,” he said. Pakistan had won the first two matches by 19 and 90 runs, respectively, and now enter the T20 World Cup on a dominant note, having shown both batting firepower and spin mastery.
