HARARE: Pakistan defeated Australia comprehensively in the last match ofT20I-triangular series in Zimbabwe.
Left-arm pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi was the top performer as he took 3wickets for 34 runs in his four overs. Afridi got the important wicket ofFinch.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Amir, Shadab Khan, Usman Shinwari, and Faheem Ashraftook one wicket each.
Batting first, Pakistan set the target of 195 against Australia. FakharZaman remained top scorer with 73, while Asif Ali played blistering inningsof 37 on 18 balls in the depth overs taking the team to a good total.
Earlier, Australia won the toss and decided to field.
Both teams have already qualified for the final match of the series.Pakistan are looking to regain ground on Australia in their secondencounter of the T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe.
According to* ICC, link>* both sidesare guaranteed their spot in Sunday’s final after Pakistan consigned thehosts Zimbabwe to a third straight defeat on Wednesday. But Pakistan need astrong performance if they are to seriously challenge Australia, who havebeen in scintillating form since arriving in Africa.
The first meeting between the sides yielded a nine-wicket win for AaronFinch’s team, who won with 11.1 overs to spare after Billy Stanlake’s 4/8helped restrict Pakistan to just 116.
Captain Finch hit a 33-ball 68* in that chase, but that was just a warm-upfor what was to come the following day when the brutal right-hander made arecord 172 off 76 balls against Zimbabwe.
There were pleasing contributions from Pakistan’s batsmen in theirWednesday outing – 47 for Fakhar Zaman, 44 for Hussain Talat and anunbeaten 38 for skipper Sarfraz Ahmed – but they must find away ofsurviving and scoring quickly off the tall, pacey Stanlake if they are tocompete with the Aussies.
*KEY PLAYERS: *
Billy Stanlake (Australia): Perhaps unusual not to opt for Finch given hisform but it’s the aggressive Billy Stanlake who won the game for theAussies in the teams’ last meeting. By ripping out the top order and goingat just two an over in the Powerplay he finished the match almost before itwas started.
Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan): Left-hand opener Fakhar Zaman has made runs inboth matches against Zimbabwe, now it’s time for him to transfer that formto Australia’s attack. He is capable against top opposition – who couldforget his performance in the final of the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy? – andPakistan are relying on him to get them off to a positive start.
SQUADS:
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, NicMaddinson, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, D’Arcy Short,Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, Andrew Tye, JackWildermuth
Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (c, wk), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, ShoaibMalik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Haris Sohail, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz,Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Mohammad Amir, Usman Khan, Shaheen Afridi,Sahibzada Farhan