Pakistan Crushes Australia to Sweep T20 Series 3-0

Pakistan registered a commanding 111-run victory over Australia on Sunday to complete a 3-0 clean sweep in the T20 series. The win was powered by half-centuries from Saim Ayub and Babar Azam, along with a career-best five-wicket haul from Mohammad Nawaz.

Opening batsman Ayub scored 56 off 37 balls, setting the tone for Pakistan, while captain Azam added an unbeaten 50 as the team posted a formidable 207-6. Spinner Nawaz then ran through the Australian lineup, taking 5-18 to bowl them out for just 96 in Lahore.

This series triumph adds to Pakistan’s impressive record against Australia in T20s, following a 2–0 victory in 2010 and a 3–0 sweep in 2018. The win comes at a crucial time ahead of next week’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, which begins on February 7.

Australia struggled from the start, losing the first match by 22 runs and the second by 90. In this final encounter, skipper Mitchell Marsh was dismissed for one by Shaheen Shah Afridi. Nawaz quickly removed opener Matthew Short and later claimed Cameron Green (22) and Marcus Stoinis (23). Shaheen also bowled Matt Renshaw as Australia collapsed to 63-5.

Nawaz finished off the innings by dismissing Josh Philippe for 14 and Cooper Connolly for a duck, surpassing his previous best T20I figures of 5-19 against Afghanistan in Sharjah last year. Shaheen contributed with figures of 2-16.

Pakistan, winning the toss and opting to bat for the third consecutive match, got off to a shaky start as Fakhar Zaman and Salman Agha fell cheaply for 10 and five, respectively. Ayub and Azam then rebuilt the innings with a 69-run partnership off 45 balls. Ayub struck two sixes and six fours in his sixth T20I fifty, while Azam’s unbeaten 50 included a six and three fours.

All-rounder Shadab Khan provided a late flourish with 46 off just 19 balls, including five sixes and two fours, adding 57 runs with Azam. Pakistan scored 70 runs in the final five overs to post a commanding total.