Australia’s T20 series clean sweep soured by Maxwell injury
Australia’s T20 series clean sweep over Pakistan has been soured by an injury to Glenn Maxwell, as Marcus Stoinis soared to monster heights.
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A hamstring injury to Glenn Maxwell has soured Australia’s clean sweep T20 series seven-wicket win over Pakistan in Hobart on Monday night.
Maxwell left the field after the final ball of the 12th over of Pakistan’s innings with the excitement machine clutching at his left hamstring after attempting to field and heading straight to the dugout.
He appeared some time later, looking dejected and with a tracksuit top on, and was replaced in the field by 12th man Sean Abbott.
Cricket Australia later confirmed Maxwell had suffered a low-grade hamstring injury and while he would have taken the crease “if required”, a blistering display with the bat from Marcus Stoinis ensured he was put on ice.
After bowling out Pakistan for just 117 runs, Stoinis (61 off 27) became the linchpin of Australia’s innings with his power hitting delighting the 5,301 fans that braved the cold at NINJA Stadium.
Stoinis’ stellar unbeaten display saw Australia wrap the contest up in just 11 overs and win the series 3-0.
Sitting at 1-58 after six overs, Pakistan well and truly shot themselves in the foot with both poor shot selection and miscommunication between the wickets, along with some terrific work in the field, allowing Australia to collect 9-56 from the final 12 overs.
HARIS HOMECOMING
While it may be a long way from the hometown of Haris Rauf in Rawalpindi, Punjab, it was still a homecoming of sorts for the Pakistani quick in Hobart. Plucked into the national side some three years ago after blistering performances in the BBL for the Melbourne Stars, the origin of Rauf’s rise to national duties actually began while playing local cricket in Hobart. Recruited by premier league club Glenorchy, Rauf’s 4-12 dismantling of a Clarence top-order back in 2020, consisting of many then-Hobart Hurricanes stars, was a major reason behind his recruitment to the Stars. It was a night to forget however for Haris, finishing with figures of 0-34.
STOINIS SHOW
It was well and truly the Stoinis show with some exceptional power hitting reminding many of the superb talent of the Western Australian. Smashing 10 boundaries from his 61 off 26, Stoinis led the way alongside Josh Inglis with the pair combining for a 55-run partnership before Inglis departed in the ninth over. That didn’t stop Stoinis though, bringing up his half century in the following over before giving Australia the win with 52 balls to spare.
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Originally published as Australia’s T20 series clean sweep soured by Maxwell injury
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