Australia clinch clean sweep in T20 series against Pakistan

In the third and final T20 match held in Hobart on Monday, Australia comfortably defeated Pakistan, completing a 3-0 series whitewash. Chasing a modest target of 118 runs set by the Green Shirts, Australia secured victory with 7 wickets in hand.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and opted to bat first at Bellerive Oval Stadium. 

The decision backfired as Pakistan struggled to build partnerships and posted a below-par total of 117 runs.

Pakistan's innings began with Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam opening, but Farhan's poor form persisted as he was dismissed for just 9 runs.

Haseebullah managed 24 runs before being sent back to the pavilion, while Usman Khan, who scored a half-century in the second T20, fell cheaply for 3 runs.

Skipper Salman Ali Agha faced difficulty on the crease, scoring only 1 run off 9 balls. 

Former captain Babar Azam showed some resistance with 41 runs but was run out by Adam Zampa in a crucial moment.

 Irfan Khan and Abbas Afridi contributed 10 and 1 runs, respectively, while debutant Jahandad Khan scored 5 runs before being caught at the boundary. 

Sufiyan Muqim, the last man out, added just 1 run.

Australia's bowlers shone, with Aaron Hardie taking 3 wickets, while Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson claimed 2 wickets each.

Australia began their chase with Matthew Short and Jack Fraser-McGurk. Short scored 16 runs before being dismissed by Shaheen Afridi, while Fraser-McGurk added 30 before falling to Jahandad Khan. 

Josh Inglis contributed 27 runs but was caught by Haris Rauf off Abbas Afridi.

Marcus Stoinis and Tim David then took charge, steering Australia to a comfortable win. 

Stoinis played an explosive innings, smashing 61 runs off just 27 balls, including 5 sixes and 5 fours. Tim David remained unbeaten with 7 runs.

Pakistan made two changes for the final T20, resting skipper Muhammad Rizwan and including debutant wicketkeeper-batsman Haseebullah in his place. Fast bowler Jahandad Khan replaced Naseem Shah in the playing XI.

Australia had already secured the series with wins in the first two matches. In the opening game, they defeated Pakistan by 31 runs, followed by a 13-run victory in the second T20I.