Zaman powers Pakistan to tri-series title

Opting to bat, Australia rode on Darcy Short’s 76 and his opening stand of 95 with Aaron Finch, the captain, to post 183 for 8. Glenn Maxwell removed Shahibzada Farhan, the debutant, and Hussain Talat for ducks in the first over of Pakistan’s chase, but Zaman held the innings together with key partnerships with Sarfraz Ahmed and Shoaib Malik to ensure that the job got done in 19.2 overs. Malik was unbeaten on 43 off 37 balls when Asif Ali hit the winning boundary.

Short, making a comeback after missing the last league game, opened the innings with a first-ball four off Amir, while Finch was lucky to be dropped off the first ball he faced in the match from Faheem Ashraf. The duo hit a total of seven fours and five sixes in their 59-ball partnership before Shadab Khan, the legspinner, had Finch caught by Farhan for a 27-ball 47.

Australia’s middle order had a strong base to build on, but none of the batsmen clicked. Maxwell lasted five balls before becoming Shadab’s second wicket, and even though Short was dropped once and Australia hit three consecutive sixes, Pakistan was always in control in the middle overs.

Short and Marcus Stoinis put on 37 before the duo perished in the space of three runs. With Australia reduced to 148 for 4 in 16.2 overs, it needed someone to take responsibility in the death overs. Instead, Pakistan’s bowlers conceded just 35 runs off the last 22 balls of the innings to keep Australia to a total far fewer than what appeared on the cards.

Brief scores: Australia 183/8 in 20 overs (Short 76, Finch 47, Amir 3-33) lost to Pakistan 187/4 in 19.2 overs (Fakhar 91, Malik 43 not out)