Stoinis's heroics help Australia complete clean sweep against Pakistan

HOBART: Marcus Stoinis’s heroics helped Australia complete clean sweep against Pakistan T20I series, ARY News reported.

Pakistan opted to bat first after winning the toss at the Bellerive Oval and made two changes in their Playing XI, resting captain Mohammad Rizwan and pace bowler Naseem Shah.

In the absence of Rizwan, all-rounder Salman Ali Agha who was named vice-captain of the team will lead the men in green in the final clash whereas Haseebullah and Jahandad Khan will replace  Rizwan and Pakistan’s star pacer Naseem Shah.

Chasing a modest target of 118, Stoinis powered Australia to chase the total in 11.2 overs at the loss of three wickets.

Stoinis came out to bat after Jake Fraser-McGurk’s dismissal with the scoreboard reading 30-2 in 3.3 overs and turned the match on its head with his belligerent hitting.

Australian captain Josh Inglis scored a meagre 17 runs during the 55-run partnership with Stoinis for the third wicket. Abbas Afridi broke the stand with the wicket of Inglis, who scored 27 off 24.

Stoinis continued his onslaught and smashed five sixes and as many fours on his way to his 27-ball knock of 61 runs to steer his team to a dominant victory.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Jahandad Khan and Abbas took one wicket each.

Earlier, Pakistan opted to bat first after winning the toss and made two changes in their Playing XI, resting captain Mohammad Rizwan and pace bowler Naseem Shah.

However, the decision to bat first did not bore fruits as Spencer Johnson, who took a five-wicket haul in the second T20I, removed Sahibzada Farhan (9) in the second over.

Babar Azam and Haseebullah Khan (24) knitted a 44-run stand for the second wicket in 31 balls before the latter fell prey to a googly by Adam Zampa.

Aaron Hardie further dented Pakistan as he dismissed Usman Khan (3) and captain Salman Ali Agha (1) to leave the visitors reeling at 70-4.

Babar played a 41-run knock from 28 balls with the help of four boundaries before Zampa ended his stay at the crease.

Pakistan struggled to regain their footing and fell apart spectacularly, losing five wickets for a mere 26 runs, ultimately bundling for a paltry total of 117 runs.

For Australia, Hardie led the attack with the figures of 3-21, while Zampa and Johnson took two wickets each. Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis also contributed with one wicket each.

Earlier, Australia thumped Pakistan in the second T20I and attained an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Australia opted to go with an unchanged side, that defeated Pakistan in the rain-effect first T20I in Brisbane. Meanwhile, Pakistan replaced Haseebullah Khan with left-arm wrist-spinner Sufiyan Muqeem.

Read: Babar Azam breaks two records for Pakistan in first Australia T20I

Pakistan, lost the first PAK v AUS game after pacers and batter Glenn Maxwell led Australia to a commanding victory over the visitors in the rain-affected first T20I at The Gabba.

It is worth noting here that the Greenshirts thrashed Australia in the third and final ODI to secure their first series victory Down Under since 2002.