Pakistan bowled out for 117 in final T20 against Australia – Sports

On By Littum

Aaron Hardie took three wickets as Pakistan crashed to a meager 117 all out in the final match of their T20 series against Australia at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval on Monday.

The hosts have already wrapped up the series after winning a rain-hit match in Brisbane by 29 runs and then in Sydney by 13 runs.

After electing to bat, Pakistan were 62-1 before losing focus to be dismissed in the 19th over with Babar Azam top scoring on 41.

Hardie took 3-21 while spinner Adam Zampa and quick Spencer Johnson grabbed two wickets each.

Pakistan opted to rest captain and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, with Sahibzada Farhan stepping up to open with Azam.

Agha Salman led the side in the skipper’s absence. Seamer Jahandad Khan came in to make his debut in place of Naseem Shah.

But on a chilly night, Azam and Farhan’s opening partnership failed to fire with Farhan lasting just seven balls before ending up with a short one from Johnson – fresh from taking five wickets in Sydney – to Xavier Bartlett.

Azam produced a series of elegant knocks as he and Haseebullah Khan put on a quickfire 44 for the second wicket.

But Khan was no match for Zampa’s spin, collecting an outside edge for 24 to Matt Short.

Pakistan’s woes increased with Usman Khan caught on the ropes after hitting Hardie and skipper Salman Agha caught lbw by the same bowler for one.

That left them reeling at 72-4 at the halfway mark and when Zampa bowled Azam and Irfan Khan was needlessly run out, they were in deep trouble.

Shaheen Shah Afridi blasted just six of the innings but did not last as the Thais were cleaned up immediately.

One concern for Australia was Glenn Maxwell, who left the field midway through with an apparent left hamstring problem.

Australia: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short, Josh Inglis (capt), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson

Pakistan: Babar Azam, Sahibzada Farhan, Haseebullah Khan, Usman Khan, Salman Agha (capt), Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf and Sufiyan Muqeem

Judges: Sam Nogajski (AUS) and Shawn Craig (AUS)

TV judge: Donovan Koch (RSA)

Referee of the match: David Boon (AUS)