Australia ended their tour of Pakistan with a three-wicket win over Pakistan in the only T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. After a lacklustre ODI series, Aaron Finch finally got runs some under his belt. After two consecutive ducks in the ODI series, Finch scored a match-winning 55 in the run chase to help side return to their homeland with a win over Babar Azam’s side.
Excellent start
Australia's run chase got off to a flier with Travis Head and skipper Aaron Finch firing from both ends. Speedster Haris Rauf ended Head's cameo. He scored 26 runs off 14 deliveries including three fours and one six.
The two shared a 40-run partnership from just 21 deliveries. Josh Inglis joined Finch in the middle and kept the required run rate down. Leg-spinner ended Inglis' innings in the ninth over. Inglis contributed 24 runs off 16 deliveries. In his next over, Qadir got rid of Marnus Labuschagne as well.
Stoinis’ cameo
Marcus Stoinis played a crucial cameo of 23 runs off just nine deliveries which included five boundaries. Finch did not get enough support from Cameron Green as he scored just two runs off seven deliveries. Finch got to his half-century from 37 deliveries in the 15th over.
Finch, McDermott win it for visitors
Mohammad Wasim Jr and Afridi bowled two excellent overs to get Pakistan back in game but McDermott's two boundaries in the 18th over kept Australia in the game. In the penultimate over, the dot ball pressure got to Finch and he lost his wicket to Afridi. He departed after scoring 55 off 45 deliveries.
The left-arm pacer got another wicket to keep the game alive till the final over. Sean Abbott got out for a golden duck. In the last over, Australia needed four runs. McDermott remained calm and hit a boundary to finish off the game with five balls to spare.
Another Babar, Rizwan partnership
Earlier, Finch won the toss and elected to field first. Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam got Pakistan off to a good start. In the eighth over, Cameron Green struck twice to remove Rizwan and Fakhar Zaman off consecutive deliveries. Meanwhile, Azam got to his half-century from 33 deliveries in the 10th over. Iftikhar Ahmed played himself in but got out in the 12th over for a run-a-ball 13.
Zampa stops Azam
Babar could not continue till the death overs. The skipper hit a six off the first ball of the 15th over bowled by Adam Zampa. The leg-spinner got the revenge next ball with the wicket of Azam. He scored 66 runs from 46 deliveries. Khushdil Shah stayed in the middle but could not finish with a flourish. Asif Ali and Shaheen Afridi remained impactless.
Eventful finish
In the death overs, Hasan Ali and Usman Qadir scored a few quick boundaries to help Pakistan finish with a flourish and post 162/8. Australia's Ellis registered his best T20I bowling figures. The Aussie pacer took four wickets and conceded 28 runs in his quota of four overs.
