Time: 5 Apr, 9.00 PM IST
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Pitch Report
If we go by what transpired in the recently concluded ODIs, we should be in for another run feast for the final game of the tour.
Teams
Probable XI for Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz/Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Usman Qadir, Shahnawaz Dahani
Probable XI for Australia: Travis Head, Aaron Finch (c), Ben McDermott, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green/Ashton Agar, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Jason Behrendorff/Ben Dwarshius
Fantasy Tips
We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Power Players
Travis Head is yet to score a fifty in the T20Is. That said, the southpaw was in cracking form in the ODIs (190 runs at 63). He can also be called upon to break partnerships with his leg-spin.
Mohammad Rizwan might have had a quiet series with the bat in the ODIs, but he averages 51.33 in his last 10 T20Is. He will also don the gloves for Pakistan.
Australia know the importance of dismissing Babar Azam early. Besides his ongoing purple patch, he has scored 317 runs at 63.40 against Australia in the T20s.
It’s all or nothing as far as Fakhar Zaman is concerned in this format. However, it is not to be forgotten that he was the leading run-getter (588 runs) in the recently concluded Pakistan T20 League. The southpaw also got 55 when the two teams met in the T20 World Cup in 2021.
Ben McDermott carried his rich form from the Australia T20 League (577 runs at 48.08) to the ODI series against Pakistan, where he scored 195 runs, including a century in the second game. Given his current form, he could set the stage on fire in the one-off T20 game.
Smart Picks
Adam Zampa and Shaheen Afridi finished as the highest wicket-takers (6) for their respective sides in the ODIs. While Australia will rely on the leg-spinner in the middle overs, Pakistan will hope for early breakthroughs from their ace pacer.
The onus of striking at the death will be on Nathan Ellis. His ability to mix up deliveries presents an opportunity to pick wickets.
Marcus Stoinis hasn’t done anything worth mentioning in this format lately, but we know what he is capable of producing, especially with the bat in crunch moments.
After an incredible bowling performance (17 wickets) in the Pakistan T20 League, Shahnawaz Dahani will be keen on having a go at the Australian batters.
Aaron Finch will be itching to get back amongst the runs after miserably failing in the ODIs (23, 0, and 0). His last five T20I against Pakistan read 0, 52*, 17, 37*, and 1. His highest score, though, against the same opposition is 68*.
Match Preview
Both sides have met 24 times in the T20 format, out of which Pakistan have won 12 and Australia 10. That said, the Aussies will have fond memories of beating Pakistan in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup last year. Nonetheless, the hosts will be high on confidence after beating the tourists in the recently concluded ODIs.