Australian batsman Marcus Stoinis smashes a six during the third T20 International against Pakistan at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. — AFP
Marcus Stoinis powered Australia to a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third T20 International on Monday, completing a 3-0 series sweep. Stoinis' unbeaten 61 off just 27 balls, featuring five sixes and as many fours, helped Australia chase down the 118-run target with 8.4 overs to spare at the Bellerive Oval.
Pakistan, electing to bat, were comfortably placed at 61-1 in the seventh over before their innings unraveled, culminating in a total of 117 in 18.1 overs. Adam Zampa's dismissal of Haseebullah Khan (24) triggered the collapse, with Pakistan adding only 56 runs while losing their remaining nine wickets. Zampa also claimed the pivotal wicket of Babar Azam (41), who was bowled by a delivery that slipped through his gate.
For Australia, Aaron Hardie took 3-21, while Spencer Johnson grabbed two wickets and ran out Irfan Khan with a direct throw from midwicket. Australia lost both openers, Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk, within the first four overs, but Stoinis' counter-attack dashed Pakistan's hopes of a comeback. Stoinis scored 22 runs, including two sixes and two fours, off a Haris Rauf over, effectively sealing the match.
Player-of-the-match Stoinis reached his half-century in just 23 balls, hitting a massive six off Shaheen Afridi. He tied the score with another six off Abbas Afridi, but the winning run came via a no-ball after Abbas delivered a chest-high full toss.
Josh Inglis, leading a second-string Australia squad in the absence of T20 captain Mitchell Marsh, praised Stoinis' performance. "When he's going like that, it's really hard to stop him and that six over the roof was one of the biggest I've ever seen," Inglis said. Pakistan's stand-in captain Agha Salman acknowledged their missed opportunities after a strong start.
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