In the final match of the series against Pakistan, David Warner made a memorable exit from Test cricket, leading Australia to a comfortable victory and completing a clean sweep over their opponents. Warner's brisk knock of 57 played a crucial role in the chase of 130, ensuring that Australia sealed a comprehensive 3-0 victory.
The chase didn't start well for Australia as Usman Khawaja was dismissed early by Sajid Khan in the opening over. However, any hopes Pakistan had of putting pressure on the Australian batting lineup were quickly extinguished by a clinical century partnership between Warner and Marnus Labuschagne for the second wicket.
Warner, as usual, was the aggressor in the partnership, playing aggressive strokes and finding boundaries with ease. He utilized his full range of shots, including cuts, reverse sweeps, and flicks, to put Pakistan on the backfoot. Labuschagne, on the other hand, provided stability and supported Warner effectively, even taking the occasional risk when needed.
The partnership between Warner and Labuschagne ensured that Australia didn't encounter many hiccups during the chase. Warner went on to score his 63rd half-century in Test cricket, making his final appearance in this format even more memorable, especially considering the guard of honor that he received from the Pakistani players before he came out to bat.
The pair brought up their seventh century partnership, helping Australia to chase down the target comfortably. But it wasn't just the batting heroics that sealed the win for the Aussies. The bowlers also played a crucial role in setting up a gettable target for the team.
Pakistan, after their overnight score of 67/7, showed some resistance initially, courtesy of Mohammad Rizwan and Aamer Jamal. However, their resistance was eventually broken, as Rizwan was dismissed by Nathan Lyon, with Warner taking a sharp catch at leg slip. From there, the rest of the Pakistani lineup quickly fell apart, as Pat Cummins dismissed Jamal with a well-directed bouncer, and Lyon cleaned up Hasan Ali.
Warner and Labuschagne took Australia closer to the target, needing just 11 runs to win. However, Warner was trapped LBW just before the winning runs were scored. Nevertheless, this dismissal allowed Warner a perfect farewell, as his contributions had already been significant in completing the clean sweep of the series.
Overall, it was an outstanding performance from Australia, as they held Pakistan to scores of 313 and 115 in their two innings, thanks to the brilliance of Josh Hazlewood, who picked up four wickets in the second innings, and Nathan Lyon, who took three scalps. In the first innings, Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan and Aamer Jamal showed some fight with scores of 88 and 82 respectively, but it wasn't enough to prevent Australia from taking control.
In response, Australia scored 299 in their first innings, with Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh making valuable contributions. Aamer Jamal was the standout bowler for Pakistan, taking an impressive six-wicket haul. However, the Australian bowlers responded strongly, ensuring a small target for their batsmen to chase down.
With this victory, Australia completed a clean sweep, winning all three matches convincingly. It was a fitting farewell for David Warner, as he bid adieu to Test cricket in style. His contribution to Australian cricket will be remembered, and his final performance will be cherished by fans around the world.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 313 (Mohammad Rizwan 88, Aamer Jamal 82, Agha Salman 53; Pat Cummins 5-67) & 115 (Saim Ayub 33; Hazlewood 4-16, Nathan Lyon 3-36)
Australia 299 (Marnus Labuschagne 60, Mitchell Marsh 59; Aamer Jamal 6-69) & 130/2 (Marnus Labuschagne 62*, David Warner 57)
Result: Australia won by 8 wickets