The first match of the series could not be completed after wet weather in Sydney, leaving things all square with two to play.
We didn’t learn anything new about Pakistan in the first match with Babar Azam carrying the batting effort yet again.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Second T20I | Tuesday 5 November 2019 | Manuka Oval, Canberra | 10:10
To Win Match
Australia 29/100
Tie 35/1
Pakistan 11/4
Australia
Australia looked on course to continue their excellent start to the home summer before the weather robbed them of a shot at the number one ranking in T20Is.
Aaron Finch went after Pakistan’s bowlers early in a bid to get Australia past the DLS par score for five overs, but despite eclipsing the mark was denied when the game was washed out before the fifth over of the chase could be completed.
Kane Richardson picked up where he left off against Sri Lanka claiming two early scalps in the Pakistan effort while Mitchell Starc also seemed to find his range.
The match in Canberra will be the first-ever T20I played at the Manuka Oval, in recent times the venue has proven to be very good for batting.
Pakistan
The tourists might be troubled by the extra bounce in Canberra and will need to adapt to conditions quickly to stay in with a shout of winning the series.
Babar Azam’s unbeaten fifty was the backbone of the Pakistan effort but the skipper will need to inspire some support from his teammates.
Veteran Mohammad Irfan became the oldest quick bowler to represent Pakistan since Imran Khan in the 1992 World Cup when he faced Australia in the series opener. The 37-year-old did not look off the pace but had no answer to the brutality of Finch.
Shot selection was an issue for Pakistan in the opener, but that could, in part, be explained by the shortening of the game.
Verdict: Australia 29/100
Pakistan need to improve massively to have even the slightest chance.
Written by James Richardson for Hollywoodbets.
