Watch: Maxwell's double wicket maiden defending 2 off last over

Watch: Maxwell’s double wicket maiden defending 2 off last over: After bagging the series post the second ODI, Australia was looking for a whitewash over the home team. Despite a strong start from Steven Smith and David Warner, Australian middle order disappointed, and were restricted to 231 for the loss of 9 wickets after 50 overs.

Pakistan, while chasing, found their usual troubles of inconsistency from the middle order batsmen. While the top order performed well, a mini collapse reduced Pakistan to 80 for 3. Following a partnership between Asad Shafiq and Shoaib Maqsood, the target looked well within reach. But another collapse, reduced them to 174 for 6 wickets, with still about 57 runs needed. Following a mini partnership between Anwar Ali and Sohail Tanvir, Pakistan creeped towards the target. With two more wickets falling, thanks to some tight bowling from Faulkner and Richardson, Pakistan were 8 down on 208.

Now despite being scratchy, Zulfiqar Babar and Sohail Tanvir got together to nearly pull off a consolation victory. With about 23 balls left to get the remaining 23 runs, these two batsmen ran well, and even scored a boundary and a six in their partnership. With just 2 needed off the last over, the match was nearly in the bag for Pakistan, and just a couple or two singles were needed to wrap it up.

And then came Maxwell.

Maxwell, not the greatest of the spinners, had a modest day with the ball until then. He was the most expensive bowler, in terms of economy rate (upto then). And when Bailey handed the last over to Maxwell, it looked like Pakistan just needed to get the formalities done.

There after what the cricket fans witnessed was a mixture of implosion from the Pakistani batsmen and some tight bowling from Maxwell. With tight fields and a perfect length maintained by Maxwell, the batsmen on the crease just couldn’t get the runs. Tanvir perished trying to hit Maxwell off the park, and the last batsman in, Mohammad Irfan, couldn’t handle the nerves of the situation. Due to a combination of low bounce off the pitch and lack of application from Irfan, the match ended with Irfan top edged the last ball trying to flick it, and James Faulkner grabbed the dolly to get Australian a win from nowhere and thus they completed the whitewash as well.

Maxwell was awarded the man of the match for his splendid last over, and this was the closest margin of victory for Australia over Pakistan.

Watch : Maxwell’s double wicket maiden defending 2 off the last over: