One-off T20I, Lahore, April 05, 2022, 09:00 PM
Pakistan
162/8(20.0ov)
Australia
163/7(19.1ov)
Australia beat Pakistan by 3 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Aaron Finch
Commentry
That's a wrap, Australia complete their tour of Pakistan without any off-field issues, and the host nation must be praised for all its efforts in making this tour possible. The Aussies were here for the first time since 1998, and we witnessed some quality action across all formats. They won the Test series, and Pakistan took the ODI series. You can treat this one-off T20I as a tie-breaker, but that sounds slightly unfair. If this was a multi-series format, frequently used in Women's cricket, then Australia would have won it 12-8. Alright then, that's your lot for the evening. You can keep checking the fixture page for all the upcoming matches. Until we meet again, it's goodbye and cheers!
Aaron Finch, the captain of Australia, is also the Player of the Match. He is thrilled with the bowling performance of his young group. Praises Nathan Ellis who had a tough start but then showed great character to come back. Adds that everything they do in the shorter formats is with one eye on the World Cup. He is very proud of his boys and feels the resilience they have shown is incredible. Further says that a few young guys have come up and it's super exciting for Australia. Mentions that after the kind of start Pakistan got, it was always nice to restrict them to 162. Lauds the bowling of Green and chuckles while saying that they are glad they don't have to bowl to Babar Azam for a while now. States that they are very grateful for being the first team to come to Pakistan in 24 years and thanks the fans and the PCB for everything.
Babar Azam, the captain of Pakistan, comes up to have a word. Says that the way they started it was very good but then the back-to-back wickets slowed them down with the bat. Mentions that they don't have much time left for the next T20 World Cup and this game was a good opportunity for Usman Qadir as both their frontline spinners were unfit. He then goes on to thank the Australian team for coming here to play all three formats of the game and hopes that they enjoyed the hospitality.
Stay tuned for the interviews...
The main reason for Pakistan's loss is their batting. They started strongly and looked set for a score around 200. However, after the halfway mark, they lost the plot. It was a steady procession of wickets for them and that stole the momentum away from their innings. With 162 on the board, you can fight in these conditions but for winning, you need a bit more than that. Usman Qadir and Mohammed Wasim were brilliant to pick two wickets each but their efforts went in vain eventually.
In pursuit of a below-par total, Travis Head showed positive intent at the start to set the tone and Aaron Finch also got some form back with the bat. The Aussies raced away to 63 runs in the Powerplay - their best score against Pakistan during that phase in this format and then capitalized on the start. Josh Inglis, who spent the entire time in quarantine during the ODIs, released all his frustration with a quickfire knock and kept the required rate honest. There was a flurry of wickets but Aaron Finch held one end tightly, scored a fifty and took Australia close to the victory line. The game needlessly got close and the knocks of Ben McDermott and Marcus Stoinis turned out to be very crucial.
What an entertaining chase and Australia nearly made a mess! Things got a bit interesting with the fall of wickets but the required rate was always in control and Australia eventually got home. The 19th over bowled by Shaheen Afridi was a thing of beauty as he gave his team an outside chance but Ben McDermott kept a clam head to see the Aussies over the line.
In over# 20
4
Haris Rauf 35/1(3.1)
19.1
4
FOUR! There it is, Ben McDermott scores the winning runs. Haris Rauf steams in and tries to bowl a toe-crushing yorker but errs in line and McDermott keeps his cool and just helps it on its way off his legs to find the deep backward square leg fence. Australia get the final say on the tour and they have won a 'thrilling' contest by 3 wickets!
We're down to the final over. 4 needed off 6! Can Haris Rauf do it?
In over# 19
0
0
0W
1
0
0W
Shaheen Afridi 21/2(4)
18.6
.
Dot to end and Shaheen Afridi has kept his side alive in the contest! Good-length, around off and this is firmly pushed towards extra cover. Just one run and two wickets off Afridi's final over, top stuff from him!
18.5
.
Full and on off, Ben Dwarshuis keeps it out towards mid off.
Debutant Ben Dwarshuis is the new batter. 4 needed off 8 balls.
18.4
W
OUT! Cleaned up! Things are getting interesting out in the middle and the crowd is charged up. Shaheen Afridi serves a fullish delivery angling into off. The ball moves away a bit after pitching and Sean Abbott goes for the cover drive. Abbott gets completely beaten by the raw pace and the ball hits the top of off stump. Afridi has sent Abbott packing for a golden duck.
18.3
1
Another fumble from Babar. Full and wide, firmly driven towards the Pakistani skipper at extra cover but he can't collect it cleanly. Single taken.
18.2
.
Around the top of off, McDermott looks to drive it through covers but is beaten and the ball doesn't carry to Rizwan.
Sean Abbott arrives. 5 needed off 11 balls.
18.1
W
OUT! TAKEN! The skipper looks to finish things off in style but ends up throwing away his wicket! Shaheen Afridi comes from 'round the wicket and angles it in full and around off. Aaron Finch whips it off the toe end of the bat and the ball flies towards the square leg fence. Asif Ali over there remains cool as a cucumber and takes a fine catch, inches inside the boundary line. The third umpire has a quick check to confirm the catch and he is satisfied. Finch departs after a good comeback knock.