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Australia finished the series sweep in the third Test
at the SCG, defeating Pakistan by eight wickets thanks to a bold half-century
from retiring opener David Warner.
Before his epic final innings came to an end just
after midday on day four, Warner hit 57 off 75 balls, leaving Australia only 11
runs shy of victory. After walking off to handshakes with the Pakistani squad,
Warner was given out lbw to offspinner Sajid Khan on review. The 24,220
spectators responded with a thunderous applause as Warner waved his bat.
With Australia easily defeating the 130 mark on a dry
track that had played tricks with varying bounce and strong turn, Marnus
Labuschagne finished undefeated on 62 from 73 balls.
In contrast to day three, when 15 wickets fell,
Australia played with intent and scored at a rate of more than five runs per
over. Aamer Jamal, Pakistan’s strongest bowler in the series, was surprisingly
not deployed until after lunch, although he was instrumental in the team’s
119-run stand with Warner and Labuschagne.
In his farewell innings of his 112-Test career, Warner
had all eyes on him. Usman Khawaja, Warner’s opening partner and close friend,
gave him a long embrace as he emerged to a standing ovation before Pakistan’s
guard of honour arrived.
As Sajid took the first ball to bowl for Pakistan, he
quickly made an impression by cutting Khawaja with a ball that twisted beyond
the bat. Later in the over, Sajid removed Khawaja leg before wicket for a duck,
a judgement that was maintained on appeal, giving Pakistan’s modest prospects a
boost.
It was interesting to see if Warner would take a more
aggressive stance or play in his usual proactive manner. He opened his account
with a punch through cover as he demonstrated his running between the wickets
to rush back for a second, making it clear what his goal was as he skipped down
the pitch at left-arm quick Mir Hamza.
After hitting a wide delivery from Hamza through cover
with his 12th delivery, Warner unleashed his maiden boundary and displayed his
white-ball prowess by reverse-sweeping Sajid to the boundary. Warner had some
luck when he inside edged seamer Hasan Ali past his stumps, but his strategy
was hazardous on a challenging surface.
After lunch, Warner reached his half-century in just
56 balls, and Australia only needed to score 39 runs. The contest’s remaining
intrigue was concentrated on Warner’s ability to hit the winning runs. He made
it through a close lbw call from Sajid on 53, which Pakistan tried in vain to
review. To exacerbate their ongoing problems at the field, captain Shan Masood
dropped Labuschagne at short midwicket.
Labuschagne, who averaged a meek 35 in Test cricket
the previous year, was in fine form as he produced the game’s second
half-century. Following Warner’s departure, he struck the winning run, and
Australia earned a series sweep, with none of the three Tests going to a fifth
day.