Australia is cruising towards victory with just 7 runs needed. Marcus Stoinis has been in sensational form, smashing a 27-ball 61 runs!
Australia have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20I series, and Pakistan would be desperate to avoid a 0-3 whitewash. Follow the live cricket score and updates from the AUS vs PAK match
Australia is cruising towards victory with just 7 runs needed. Marcus Stoinis has been in sensational form, smashing a 27-ball 61 runs!
Abbas Afridi strikes! Josh Inglis departs for 27 off 24 balls, caught by Haris Rauf at fine leg. Inglis looked to scoop a slower delivery over fine-leg but only managed to send it up in the air, where Rauf, after a couple of fumbles, held onto the catch.
AUS: 87/3 (10)
Marcus Stoinis is taking charge! The Australian all-rounder has unleashed a flurry of boundaries and sixes off Haris Rauf, including three massive hits – two sixes and a four. A stunning display of power hitting, with clean strikes over deep mid-wicket, extra cover, and long-on, as he brings the momentum back for Australia. Stoinis is looking in great touch.
AUS: 78/2 (8.5)
Jahandad Khan takes his first international wicket! He dismisses Fraser-McGurk for 18, caught by Usman Khan at deep backward square. It's a memorable moment for the 21-year-old debutant, who now has a wicket to his name in his first match.
AUS: 30/2 (3.3)
Shaheen Afridi strikes early! He dismisses Matthew Short for just 2 runs, caught by Irfan Khan at mid-on. Afridi changed the pace with a full delivery on off-stump, and Short mistimed his lofted shot, sending the ball straight up for an easy catch. This marks Shaheen’s first wicket of the series.
30/1: (3.2)
Jahandad Khan, the 21-year-old all-rounder from Rawalpindi, is making his international debut for Pakistan today. A left-arm seamer and hard-hitting lower-order batter, Jahandad opened the bowling and conceded only 6 runs in his first over. The over included 0 1 1 0 0 4, with the boundary coming off Fraser-McGurk’s bat.
AUS: 16-0 (2)
Matthew Short and Fraser-McGurk are at the crease as Australia chase down Pakistan's low total. Shaheen Afridi opens the attack for Pakistan.
AUS: 1/0 (0.3)
Spencer Johnson’s eight wickets in this series now stand as the joint-most for Australia in a bilateral T20I series.
Pakistan started strong in the powerplay, posting 58/1, their highest-ever powerplay score against Australia in T20Is, surpassing the previous best of 56/0 in Lahore in 2022. However, after a solid start, they crumbled, losing wickets in quick succession, and ended up with a modest total of 117.
Spencer Johnson wraps up Pakistan's innings with a perfect yorker to Sufiyan Muqeem, who is bowled for 1 off 3 balls.
Pakistan are all out for 117 in 18.1 overs. Aaron Hardie’s 3 wickets and Adam Zampa’s 2 played a crucial role in the collapse, leaving Australia needing just 118 to win the 3rd T20I - a clean sweep victory.
PAK: 117 (18.1)
And then, Jahandad Khan's cameo comes to an end as he skies one to deep midwicket, where Marcus Stoinis takes a well-judged catch just inside the ropes. Jahandad departs for 5 off 10 balls.
With Shaheen Afridi and now Jahandad gone, Pakistan's hopes are fading fast. Haris Rauf is the new batter at the crease.
PAK: 117 (18.1)
Shaheen Afridi's fightback ends as he falls to a slower bouncer from Bartlett! The ball balloons off his glove, and Josh Inglis makes a simple catch behind the stumps. Shaheen departs for 16 off 12 balls, including a six.
117/9 (17.5)
Hardie is having a challenging over as Shaheen Afridi hits back-to-back boundaries! A no-ball for the second bouncer, a wide yorker, and a couple of solid shots from Shaheen keep the scoreboard ticking. Meanwhile, Jahandad Khan keeps his cool and nudges a single. Pakistan are fighting hard at 102/7 in 15.5 overs, but the Aussie bowlers continue to tighten their grip.
PAK: 107/7 (16)
Double Trouble for Pakistan!
Hardie gets his third wicket as Abbas Afridi is caught by Matthew Short for 1. Then, Irfan Khan is run out after a mix-up with Abbas. Pakistan now in deep trouble.
PAK 93/7 (14.3)
Babar OUTTT!!! Zampa yorked him!
Babar Azam's innings come to a stunning end! Zampa bowls a perfect yorker, and Babar goes for the big shot but is clean bowled, crashing into middle and leg. He departs for 41 off 28 balls, with 4 fours.
PAK: 92/5 (13)
Babar Azam Nears T20I Milestone!
Babar Azam is closing in on the coveted spot for most runs in Men's T20Is! With 4,190 runs, he's just 41 behind Rohit Sharma's record of 4,231. He currently sits ahead of Virat Kohli (4,188), Paul Stirling (3,655), and Martin Guptill (3,531).
PAK 92/5 (13)
Agha Salman Departs!
Hardie gets his second wicket! Agha Salman is plumb lbw. He departs for 1 off 9 balls, and Pakistan are now 70/4 in 9.4 overs. Irfan Khan is the new man in.
PAK: 72/4 (10)
Usman Khan Falls to Hardie!
Usman Khan’s aggressive charge backfires again! Hardie outsmarts him with a slower ball, and Usman miscues it to sweeper cover, where Nathan Ellis takes a brilliant catch near the boundary. Usman departs for 3 off 4 balls.
Now, the captain Agha Salman comes to the crease
PAK: 67/3 (8.1)
Haseebullah Khan Departs!
And, Adam Zampa strikes in his first over! A tempting googly floats wide of off, Haseebullah Khan goes for the big shot but edges it to Matthew Short at a backward point. Haseebullah departs for 24 off 19 balls, with 3 fours.
Usman Khan comes to the crease.
PAK 62/2 (7.1)
Pakistan make a solid start in Hobart, with the pitch proving to be a belter. The powerplay ends at 58/1, with Haseebullah Khan scoring 24 off 18 balls (3 fours) and Babar Azam 25 off 14 balls (4 fours). Now, Adam Zampa takes the ball.
PAK: 58/1 (6)
Babar Azam in Full Flow!
Babar Azam is in brilliant touch, smashing hattrick boundaries off Marcus Stoinis deliveries. He dabs a back-of-length delivery past third man, pulls one firmly behind square, and then thrashes a fuller delivery through cover. With Babar's 22 off 10 balls Pakistan move to 45/1 after 4.5 overs.
The fifth over saw 1, 4, 4, Wd, 4, L, 1, 1 - 16 Runs! Stoinis will surely regret this expensive over!
PAK 45/1 (4.5)
Eyes will be on Jehandad Khan, the 21-year-old all-rounder from Rawalpindi, making his international debut for Pakistan. He is left-arm seamer and hard-hitting lower-order batter.
Meanwhile, Haseebullah Khan is in good form, delivering a four off Bartlett’s delivery, while Babar adds 9 runs off 5 balls, including a boundary.
PAK 24/1 (3)
Just when Sahibzada Farhan found his rhythm with a crisp four, Spencer Johnson strikes! Farhan pulls a short delivery from Johnson and is caught by Bartlett at mid-wicket. The same fate as in the previous game for Farhan, as he falls for 9 off 7 balls, with 1 boundary.
PAK 17/1 (1.5)
From Pakistan Sahibzada Farhan and Babar Azam are at the crease. Bartlett opens the attack for Australia.
PAK: 3/0 (0.2)
Pakistan have won the toss against Australia and have opted to bat first.
A surprising name missing in the playing XIs is Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan who seems to be resting. Now, Salman Agha will lead the team in his absence.
Australia (Playing XI): Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis(w/c), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan(w), Usman Khan, Agha Salman(c), Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
The weather forecast for the third T20I between Australia and Pakistan are promising. According to Accuweather.com, there's only 3% chance that it can rain today in Hobart.
Before Pakistan's tour of Australia in 2024, the men in green held a superior head-to-head record with 13 wins to 11 losses. However, following Australia's back-to-back victories in the last two games, the win-loss record between the two teams is now tied at 13-13.
Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan(w), Usman Khan, Agha Salman(c), Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Jahandad Khan, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
Australia (Playing XI): To be updated
After losing the ODI series 1-2, Australia bounced back and clinched victories in the first two T20I matches, winning the first game by 29 runs at the Gabba (rain-shortened - 7 overs match). The Josh Inglis-led team won the second T20I by 13 runs against Pakistan.
Pakistan Squad: Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Babar Azam, Arafat Minhas, Omair Yousuf, Haseebullah Khan, Irfan Khan, Usman Khan, Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Sahibzada Farhan, Abbas Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
Australia Squad: Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis(w/c), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Josh Philippe, Spencer Johnson.
The first ball of the third Australia vs Pakistan T20I is scheduled to be bowled at 1:30 pm IST, with the toss at 1 pm. The match will be live-streamed on the Disney+ Hotstar app and website in India. It will be telecast on the Star Sports Network TV channels in India.