Lahore: Australia skipper Aaron Finch scored a timely half-century as they concluded their tour of Pakistan with a three-wicket win over the hosts in a one-off Twenty20 international match in Lahore on Tuesday.
Finch, who has struggled for runs and failed to score in the last two games of the three-match One Day International series, returned to form with a 45-ball 55 as Australia overcame some nervy moments late on to successfully chase 163.
The captain departed in the penultimate over as he looked to finish with a flourish, only to find Asif Ali in the deep before Shaheen Shah Afridi castled next man in Sean Abbott three balls later, but Australia got home with five balls to spare.
Put in to bat first, Pakistan rode on a 46-ball 66 by skipper Babar Azam but a middle-order collapse and some fine bowling by Australia pace bowler Nathan Ellis (4-28) meant they eventually fell short of a challenging total with 162-8 in 20 overs.
Babar smashed six fours and two massive sixes in his knock and the 27-year-old was well supported by fellow opener Mohammad Rizwan, who made 23 before Pakistan lost their way until Khushdil Shah’s 24 and some late fireworks by Usman Qadir at the end.
On their first tour of Pakistan in 24 years, Australia won the Test series 1-0 but the hosts prevailed in the one-dayers.
Ellis returned figures of 4-28 and debutant Cameron Green 2-16 as Pakistan failed to reach a big score despite Azam’s brisk knock at Gaddafi Stadium.
But Green dismissed Rizwan with the fourth ball of his first over and Fakhar Zaman off a full toss next ball to pull things for Australia.
Azam drove Green for a boundary to bring up his 26th T20I fifty off just 33 balls. He smashed spinner Adam Zampa for a six but next ball holed out at deep cover.
Khushdil Shah chipped in with 21-ball 24 but Pakistan managed 50 runs in the last five overs, losing five wickets.
Marnus Labuschagne, Ben Dwarshuis and Green were handed Twenty20 international debuts by Australia.
Brief scores:
Australia beat Pakistan by three wickets. Pakistan 162 for 8 in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 23, Babar Azam 66, Khushdil Shah 24, Ellis 4-28, Green 2-16) Australia 163 for 7 in 19.1 overs (Travis Head 26, Aaron Finch 55, Josh Inglis 24, Marcus Stoinis 23, Ben McDermott 22 not out, Shaheen 2-21, Qadir 2-33, Wasim 2-30).
