Lahore, 1 February 2026: Pakistan completed their third T20I series sweep against Australia sealing the series 3-0 after yet another comprehensive win by 111 runs in the third T20I here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Sunday evening.
Australia were handed their biggest defeat margin, while Pakistan registered their third-largest winning margin in T20Is. In defence of the 207-run total, Pakistan bundled out Australia for a mere 96 – their fifth lowest total in T20Is.
Left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz picked up his career best bowling figures of five for 18, becoming only the second Pakistan bowler to take two five-fors in T20Is besides Umar Gul.
Nawaz also registered the fourth best bowling figures for Pakistan in T20Is and picking up just the sixth five-wicket haul in the format for them.
Shaheen, who accounted for Mitchell Marsh and Matt Renshaw within his first two overs, struck on the fourth ball of the innings to provide Pakistan head start.
The only substantial partnership for Australia came for the fourth wicket when Marcus Stoinis (23, 22b, 3x4s) and Cameron Green (22, 24b, 2x4s) put up some resistance combining after 16-3 in 2.5 overs.
Australia lost six for 36 after Stoinis was castled by Nawaz in the 10th over as Pakistan marched to a crushing win. Adam Zampa did not walk out to bat due to injury.
Naseem Shah and Abrar Ahmed chipped in with one wicket each, while Shadab returned economical figures of none for 14 in three overs.
Earlier, Pakistan posted their joint-third highest T20I total in the allotted 20 overs with Saim Ayub and Babar Azam striking half-centuries, while Shadab chipped in with a brisk 19-ball 46. Babar was also involved in two-half-century partnerships with Saim and Shadab.
Australia eked out two early wickets removing the incoming Fakhar Zaman and skipper Salman Ali Agha in second and fourth over, respectively.
From 34-2 in 3.4 overs, Babar and Saim came together to stitch a 69-run stand off 45 balls. Pakistan managed 55-2 in the Powerplay after Saim hit Matthew Short for a six and a four at the end of sixth over.
Saim brought up his sixth T20I fifty off 29 balls before falling for 56 in the 12th over. Khawaja Mohammad Nafay then walked in at 103-3 in 11.1 overs and hit two sixes and a four scoring 21 off 12 balls.
With Nafay’s departure on the last ball of the 14th over, Shadab came in all guns blazing hitting a quickfire 46 off 19 balls and shared a 57-run stand for the fifth wicket with Babar.
Shadab shifted the momentum of the innings going after Short, Ben Dwarshuis, and Cooper Connolly as he struck five sixes and two fours in his 21-minute outing from 14th to 19th over.
Babar remained unbeaten for 50 off 36 balls with the help of three fours and one six, which is his 39th half-century in the format. Faheem Ashraf added 10 not out off four balls comprising of two fours.
For Australia, Dwarshuis picked up two wickets, while Matthew Kuhnemann, Short, Connolly and Green dismissed one batter each.
Scores in brief
Match 3 of 3: Pakistan beat Australia by 111 runs at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Pakistan 207-6, 20 overs (Saim Ayub 56, Babar Azam 50 not out, Shadab Khan 46, Khawaja Mohammad Nafay 21; Ben Dwarshuis 2-39)
Australia 96 all out, 16.5 overs (Marcus Stoinis 23, Cameron Green 22; Mohammad Nawaz 5-18, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-16)
Player of the match – Mohammad Nawaz (Pakistan)
Player of the series – Salman Ali Agha (Pakistan)
Series results: (All matches at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore)
1st T20I – Pakistan won by 22 runs
2nd T20I – Pakistan won by 90 runs
3rd T20I – Pakistan won by 111 runs
