After succumbing to a rare failure against Pakistan in the recently concluded ODI series,  Australia fought back brilliantly to achieve an unassailable 3-0 clean sweep in the T20I series. With the series decided firmly in favor of the hosts, Australia did not leave any stone unturned coming into the third T20I at Hobart where a spirited effort bowling effort from the Australian quicks left the visitors gasping for breath.

Despite some gutsy contributions from Babar and Haseebullah, Rizwan’s decision to bat first flopped big-time as Pakistan were bundled out cheaply for 117 inside 18.1 overs.

Pakistan’s vulnerable batting lineup exposed at the Bellerive Oval

The young pace attack of Australia accounted for the bulk of the damage. Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, and Aaron Hardie ran riot in Hobart sharing seven wickets. Whereas only two wickets fell to spin, Zampa claiming all two of them. 

After losing Sahibzada Farhan early in the innings, Babar and Haseebullah laid a solid foundation for Pakistan and pushed the score to 61-1 by the end of the seventh over. But once the partnership was ended by Zampa, the Pakistan batting lineup capitulated almost instantly. 

It took no time for Hardie to run through the middle order while Ellis, Bartlett, and Johnson saved their best for the end to curtail the Pakistan innings well inside the allotted 20 overs. Following the fall of the second wicket, Pakistan lost their way completely as the visitors could only add another 56 runs at the expense of eight wickets.

Aaron Hardie registers third-best T20I bowling figures against PAK

Hardie’s impressive outing with the ball was instrumental in triggering such a collapse for Pakistan. The young aspiring all-rounder claimed three prize wickets of Usman, Agha, and Abbas while going for only 21 runs in his allotted four overs. Although his spell saw a couple of wides and a no-ball, Hardie only managed to concede two fours in his entire quota. 

His figures of 3-21 are now the third-best figures registered by any Australian bowler against Pakistan in T20I cricket. The youngster is now only behind Starc and Zampa who currently hold the best figures of 3-11 and 2-11 respectively.  

It was all too easy for Australia in the second innings as Stoinis' belligerent cameo of an unbeaten 61 (27) powered Australia to a crushing 7-wicket win in the third T20I helping them chase down the target inside 12 overs. 

See also: Did the Brisbane T20I involve any mistake or cheating?