The third and final T20I between Pakistan and Australia took place on Monday, November 18, 2024, at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. With Australia already leading the series 2-0, Pakistan was looking to salvage some pride and avoid a whitewash.
Team Overviews: Australia: Australia entered the match with a lot of confidence, having already secured the series. Their balanced team performance in the previous matches was a testament to their dominance. Led by Josh Inglis, Australia aimed to complete a clean sweep. Key players like Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, and Mitchell Starc were pivotal in their campaign.
Pakistan: Pakistan, led by Mohammad Rizwan, had shown glimpses of brilliance but failed to convert them into wins. The team relied heavily on Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi to turn things around. Pakistan needed a collective team effort to pose a serious challenge to Australia.
Key Players: Australia:
- Spencer Johnson: His five-wicket haul (5/26) in the second match set the tone for Australia’s bowling attack.
- Josh Inglis: As the captain and wicketkeeper, his leadership and batting were crucial.
Pakistan:
- Babar Azam: Pakistan’s skipper needed to lead from the front with a big score.
- Shaheen Afridi: Known for his lethal swing and pace, Afridi was essential for early breakthroughs.
Head-to-Head in ODIs
- Total Matches: 27
- Pakistan Wins: 11
- Australia Wins: 15
- No Results: 1
Probable Playing XI: Australia:
- Matthew Short
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Josh Inglis (Captain & Wicketkeeper)
- Glenn Maxwell
- Tim David
- Marcus Stoinis
- Aaron Hardie
- Xavier Bartlett
- Nathan Ellis
- Adam Zampa
- Spencer Johnson
Pakistan:
- Sahibzada Farhan
- Mohammad Rizwan (Captain & Wicketkeeper)
- Babar Azam
- Usman Khan
- Agha Salman
- Irfan Khan
- Abbas Afridi
- Shaheen Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Haris Rauf
- Sufiyan Muqeem
Live Streaming
India:
- TV Channel: Sony Pictures Network (Specific channel to be announced)
- Live Streaming: SonyLIV app and website
Pakistan:
- TV Channel: Asports
- Live Streaming: Tamasha App, Tapmad
Pitch Report: The Bellerive Oval in Hobart is known for being a batting-friendly pitch with short square boundaries. The pitch offers little assistance for spinners, making it favourable for batters. Teams winning the toss might prefer to bowl first, taking advantage of the fresh pitch in the early overs.
Probable Scenarios: Batting First: If Australia bats first, they will aim to set a high target with aggressive batting from their top order. Pakistan’s bowlers, led by Shaheen Afridi, need to strike early to restrict Australia. Chasing: If Pakistan bats first, they need a strong start from their openers and a solid middle-order performance. Australia’s bowlers will look to exploit any early weaknesses and maintain pressure throughout the innings.
Match Predictions: Australia’s recent form and strong performances in the first two matches make them favourites for the final T20I. However, Pakistan’s resilience and potential for key players to step up could make it a closer contest than anticipated.
