At the home of the Perth Scorchers, Australia disposed of Pakistan with a brutal efficiency reminiscent of the West Australian Big Bash League club as coached by Justin Langer, completing a run of five wins in six T20Is that was only interrupted by inconvenient Sydney rain and posed ominous signs for the opposition ahead of next year's World Cup.
Finch and Warner had very little pressure on them as they charged to victory in a fashion that ensured the series would end with the openers being the only members of the Australian batting order to visit the crease more than once each. The vice-captain, Alex Carey, was not required to bat at any stage against Pakistan or Sri Lanka - he will hope for more of a hit when he dons the creams to lead Australia A against the Pakistanis from Monday at the same venue.
The Australians included Abbott for his first international in five years, and also recalled Stanlake at the expense of Adam Zampa in expectation of a bouncy pitch. Pakistan selected two debutants, Khushdil Shah and Muhammad Musa coming into the team, alongside Mohammad Hasnain and Imam ul Haq.
Having claimed the most vital wicket of all, Starc improved on the delivery at his next attempt, splaying the stumps of Mohammad Rizwan who was nowhere near the late curl of the ball with his attempted drive. When Imam miscued Abbott, who hit the pitch hard in keeping with Australia's plans to make the most of Perth's vast square boundaries, the Pakistan innings was once again wobbling before it had the chance to stand.
A brief recovery from Iftikhar, playing his second substantial innings in as many matches, was offset when a frustrated Haris Sohail failed to reach the pitch of Agar, who would complete a superb stint for the national team having conceded just three boundaries in six games, to lob a catch to long-off.
