Australia have continued their T20I domination in the Canberra T20I against Pakistan on Tuesday (5th November). With this victory, they have taken the 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series with one to go.
After winning the toss in this second T20I of this series, Pakistan captain Babar Azam decided to bat first. However, once again, the Pakistan batsmen failed to generate the good starts. Apart from the opener Babar Azam, other top-order batsmen totally disappointed with the bat.
While the wickets were falling in the other end, Pakistan captain Babar Azam was handling the Australian bowlers very well. Like the last T20I, Babar once again hit a half-century. But soon after completing his half-century, Babar (50 runs off 38 balls) lost his wicket in a run-out.
At the very late moment of that innings, the middle-order batsman Iftikhar Ahmed played a blistering knock. The right-handed batsman completed his half-century in 29 balls and remained not out on 62 off 34 balls (5 fours and 3 sixes). His knock massively helped Pakistan to score 150/6 (20 overs) in the first innings.
Apart from Kane Richardson, other hosts’ bowlers were mostly in control in that innings. Ashton Agar (2/23) scalped two wickets while Pat Cummins (1/19) and Kane Richardson (1/51) picked up one wicket each.
David Warner fell quickly, but Steven Smith’s 80 not out secured easy victory for Australia
In reply, Australian openers provided their natural fast starts but they didn’t stay for the longer periods. After four successive T20I not outs, David Warner finally lost his wicket in T20I during this match. Before getting out, the Australian left-handed opening batsman scored 20 runs off 11 balls. Warner’s opening partner and captain Aaron Finch also lost his wicket on 17 runs.
Struggling on 48/2, Australia returned in the game with the help of Steven Smith‘s big knock. He provided two useful partnerships with Ben McDermott and Ashton Turner for the third (58) and unbroken fourth wicket (45*) respectively.
While McDermott scored 21 runs, Turner remained not out on eight runs. However, Smith’s big knock helped the hosts Australia to win that game comfortably. The former Australia captain Smith completed his half-century in 36 balls and stretched his batting for further. Smith finally remained not out on 80 runs off 51 balls (11 fours and only six) and Australia chased down that target in 18.3 overs after losing three wickets. Australia won this T20I by seven wickets (with nine balls remaining).
Among the Pakistan bowlers, Mohammad Irfan (1/27), Imad Wasim (1/34) and Mohammad Amir (1/32) all got one wicket each.
They played the first match of this series on last Sunday (3rd November) at Sydney. Australia were very close to winning that game but the rain denied their deserving victory. Pakistan scored 107/5 (15 overs) at the first batting. Chasing down the revised target of 119 runs in 15 overs, the hosts were batting on 41/0 (3.1 overs) when the rain finally washed that game.