The third and final match of the series closes out in Lahore on Sunday night, but momentum is firmly with Pakistan after they wrapped up the series with a crushing win on Saturday. For Australia, this finale is less about silverware and more about damage control and learning hard lessons ahead of a looming T20 World Cup campaign.
Check out our preview and betting tips for the clash below and remember to support our site and help to keep our content free by signing up to one of our best sports betting sites.
Pakistan vs Australia 3rd T20 Preview & Betting Tips
Lahore, Sunday 1st January, 10:00pm AEDT
Pakistan
Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq
Pakistan have looked increasingly comfortable as the series has progressed. Captain Salman Ali Agha led from the front in the second match with a superb 76 off 40 balls, setting the tone from the outset after winning the toss. He was well supported by Usman Khan, who struck a fluent half century, before Shadab Khan provided late acceleration. Even the dismissal of Babar Azam for two did little to slow Pakistan’s momentum, such has been the depth and clarity in their approach.
With the ball, Pakistan’s five pronged spin attack has been relentless. Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Saim Ayub and Usman Tariq all found ways to trouble Australia’s batters, combining subtle changes of pace with excellent control. The hosts have read the conditions perfectly, tightening the noose through the middle overs and forcing mistakes from an Australian line up that has looked increasingly short on answers.
Australia
Australia: Mitch Marsh, Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Australia were comprehensively outplayed in the second match, suffering a 90 run defeat that exposed just how uncomfortable they have been against spin in these conditions. Chasing 199, they were bowled out for just 108 inside 16 overs, with all ten wickets falling to Pakistan’s spinners. Mitch Marsh fell early LBW, Travis Head was undone by one that kept low, and from there the innings unravelled rapidly. Cameron Green provided the only real resistance with a counter attacking 35 off 20, while Matt Short’s 27 was the last flicker of defiance, but the inability to navigate the middle overs was stark. The Australians simply could not rotate strike or absorb pressure as wave after wave of spin closed in.
That collapse followed another tough night with the ball, where Pakistan piled on 5 for 198. While Adam Zampa again stood out as Australia’s most effective bowler, conceding just 27, the rest of the attack struggled to contain Pakistan’s batters once the pitch slowed. Xavier Bartlett was taken for over 13 an over, while even the supporting spinners were kept busy without reward. The absence of Australia’s senior quicks and experienced white ball heads has been telling, and this tour has underlined how reliant this group is on players who are not currently available.
Match Prediction
As much as there is temptation to back an Australian response to at least salvage something from the series, the evidence suggests otherwise. They return to the same ground under the same spin friendly conditions, and their inability to handle Pakistan’s spinners through the middle overs has been the defining theme of the tour. Without a dramatic shift in approach or personnel, it is hard to see where that improvement comes from in the space of 48 hours.
Pakistan, on the other hand, have clarity, confidence and conditions firmly on their side. Expect them to press the advantage again, dominate the key phases and close out the series with a clean 3 nil sweep in front of their home crowd.
Pakistan to Win
$2.25 (2 Units)
Player Prop
For the player angle, backing Salman Ali Agha to top score for Pakistan makes plenty of sense. He has been outstanding across the first two games, contributing 39 in the opener before blasting a match defining 76 in the second. Batting with authority and freedom against both pace and spin, Agha looks perfectly placed to cap off a superb series with another leading contribution.
Salman top AUS runscorer
$4.75
