Australia defeated Pakistan in the 2nd T20I:
Pakistan: 150/6
Australia: 151/3 (18.3/20 overs, target 151)
Australia won the match by 7 wickets with 9 balls remaining.
Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd T20I, the match ended in Australia’s favor. Pakistan scored 150 runs at the cost of 6 wickets after 20 overs. Pakistan’s new captain and the top-ranked batsman, Babar Azam and Iftikhar Ahmed played a significant role in ensuring that their team reaches that total against the hosts. Australia chased the target of 151 runs at the cost of just 3 wickets in 18.3 overs with Steven Smith doing most of the job for his team.
After their win in the 2nd T20I, Australia is now leading the 3-match T20I series by 1-0.
Pakistan vs Australia, 2nd T20I, Iftikhar Ahmed scores unbeaten 62:
Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first in the 2nd T20I. Captain Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman came to bat first for the visiting side. Fakhar Zaman failed to deliver with his batting once against and lost his wicket for 2 runs after facing 7 balls. Haris Sohail also got dismissed by Kane Richardson for 6 runs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan added 14 runs from 16 balls.
Babar Azam, Pakistan’s captain and the top-ranked T20I batsman in the world, scored his 12th T20I half-century. He got run out by a direct hit from David Warner after scoring 50 runs from 38 deliveries with 6 fours.
Pakistan was 106/5 in 16 overs but Iftikhar Ahmed’s ferocious batting provided Pakistan with a much-needed boost towards the end. Iftikhar Ahmed smacked 22 runs in the 19th over of the match. He scored his maiden T20I half-century for 29 balls. Iftikhar Ahmed scored an undefeated 62 runs from 34 balls with 5 fours and 3 sixes, providing Pakistan with a much-required momentum.
Babar Azam's half-century and Iftikhar Ahmed's blazing 34-ball 62* take Pakistan to 150/6 in the second T20I in Canberra.
Can Australia chase this down?#AUSvPAK LIVE: https://t.co/YKpcH5zFie pic.twitter.com/BHA6mhcT3H
— ICC (@ICC) November 5, 2019
Pakistan finished their innings on 150 runs for 6 wickets after 20 overs. Ashton Agar turned out to be the most successful bowler for Australia as he claimed 2 wickets after conceding only 23 runs from his 4 overs. Kane Richardson gave away 51 runs for 1 wicket as he bowled against Iftikhar Ahmed, who hit him for 22 runs in his last over. Pat Cummins also got 1 wicket for 19 runs from his 4 overs.
Steven Smith leads the charge for Australia:
The hosts required 151 runs from 20 overs to win the match. Early wickets were the key for Pakistan to win this match. David Warner and Captain Aaron Finch came to bat for Australia. Mohammad Amir bowled David Warner who had remained unbeaten in his last 4 innings for 20 runs from 11 deliveries.
Mohammad Irfan also avenged his 2nd over from the 1st T20I where he conceded he conceded 26 runs against Aaron Finch by dismissing him in the 2nd T20I for 17 runs from 14 balls. Steven Smith took all the spotlight of the day as he scored a whopping 80 runs from 51 balls to secure the game for his team. He scored his fourth fifty from 36 balls. Steven Smith struck 11 fours and a six as remained unbeaten throughout his innings.
A masterful knock of 80* from Steve Smith leads Australia to a seven-wicket victory with nine balls remaining.
The hosts take a 1-0 lead in the series. #AUSvPAK SCORECARD ?https://t.co/YKpcH5zFie pic.twitter.com/Akm9tjIUkL
— ICC (@ICC) November 5, 2019
Steven Smith shared a 58 run partnership with Ben McDermott who got lbw by Imad Wasim after scoring 21 runs from 22 balls. Australia finished the chase at the cost of 3 wickets and won the match in just 18.3 overs. Steven Smith was named the “Player of the Match” for his world-class performance with the bat as he scored an unbeaten 80 runs for his team to win them the match.
The 3rd T20I of the 3-match T20I series of Pakistan’s tour of Australia will be played on November 8.
