Dubai: Pakistan survived an onslaught by big hitter Glenn Maxwell to win the second Twenty20 international by 11 runs in a last over finish against Australia in Dubai on Friday.
Maxwell hit a chancy 37-ball 52 with four boundaries and a six but could not score the 23 runs required in the final over as Australia -- chasing 148 to win -- ended up at 136-8 in their 20 overs at Dubai stadium.
Pakistan were lifted to 147-6 by Babar Azam (45) and Mohammad Hafeez (40) after Sarfraz Ahmed won the toss and opted to bat.
Pakistan won the first match by 66 runs in Abu Dhabi. The third and final match is also in Dubai on Sunday.
The win is skipper Sarfraz´s 10th T20 series win since taking over as captain in September 2016, including a tri-series win in Zimbabwe in July this year.
That highlights Pakistan´s number one ranking in the shortest format as they powered Australia for a second match running.
Australia were once again derailed at the outset with D´Arcy Short run out for two in a controversial manner with replays showing he had grounded the bat but was given out by television umpire Riaz Rashid.
Sarfraz was full of praise for his team and Shaheen.
"It´s not easy to win 10 series on the trot in the T20 format," said Sarfraz. "The way we have played and improved has been very good. We have improved batting, bowling and fielding, and our management deserves credit.
"I was confident of Shaheen bowling the last over, he may be inexperienced but he showed that he has the capacity to be a big bowler."
Australian captain Finch said his players were too cautious.
"We were probably just a bit tentative in the first six overs of batting," said Finch. "Being six down last game, we tried to be conservative. And when Pakistan put the squeeze on you, it can get tough. They are No.1 for a reason."
Finch (three) and big hitter Chris Lynn (seven) failed for a second match running as Australia were struggling at 31-3.
Maxwell, dropped thrice on 18, 34 and 52, then added 30 for the fourth wicket with Mitchell Marsh (27) but Pakistan continued to take wickets to keep the Australian chase in check.
When Marsh and Ben McDermott (three) fell in quick succession Australia were in danger of falling to another under-100 total but Maxwell and Nathan Coulter-Nile fought hard during their 59-run seventh wicket stand.
When Shaheen Shah Afridi started the last over Australia needed 23 to win. Coulter-Nile hit a towering six off the first ball and then took a single but Maxwell holed out off the next ball to end all hopes of an Australian win.
Shaheen took 2-35 while spinner Shadab Khan finished with 2-30.
Pakistan´s total was built around a solid 70-run partnership between Azam and Hafeez who built the innings after Fakhar Zaman was out for 11 with the score at 29.
Azam hit three boundaries in his 44-ball knock while Hafeez was in a more punishing mood, smashing two sixes and three boundaries off 34 deliveries.
Shoaib Malik, who came in for Hussian Talat in the team, made 14 while Faheem Ashraf made 17 not out.
Coulter Nile was the best Australian bowler with 3-18 while Billy Stanlake took 2-36.
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Australia 136/8 in 20 overs (PAK 147/6)
Shaheen to 2 runs
Shaheen to Nile, OUT
Shaheen to Nile, 2 runs
Shaheen to Maxwell, OUT
Shaheen to Nile, 1 run
Shaheen to Nile, SIX
End of over 19: Australia 125/6
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, no run
Hasan Ali to Nile, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Nile, SIX
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Nile, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 1 run
End of over 18: Australia 115/6
Shaheen to Maxwell, 1 run, it's a fifty for Maxwell
Shaheen to Maxwell, SIX
Shaheen to Maxwell, wide, 1 run
Shaheen to Maxwell, wide, 1 run
Shaheen to Maxwell, no run
Shaheen to Maxwell, no run
Shaheen to Nile, 1 run
Shaheen to Nile, no run
End of over 17: Australia 105/6
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, no run
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, FOUR
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 2 runs
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, FOUR
Hasan Ali to Nile, 1 run
End of over 16: Australia 92/6
Shadab Khan to Nile, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Nile, no run
Shadab Khan to Nile, SIX
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, SIX
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, no run
End of over 15: Australia 78/6
Hasan Ali to Nile, no run
Hasan Ali to Nile, no run
Hasan Ali to Nile, APPEAL FOR CAUGHT BEHIND, the ball kisses the stump
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, no run
Hasan Ali to Nile, 1 run
End of over 14: Australia 76/6
Shaheent Nike, 2 runs
Shaheen to Nile, wide, 1 run
Shaheen to McDermott, OUT, run out
Shaheen to McDermott, no run
Shaheen to Maxwell, 3 runs, dropped
Shaheen to Maxwell, FOUR
Shaheen to Maxwell, no run
End of over 13: Australia 66/5
Hafeez to Maxwell, 1 run
Hafeez to McDermott, 1 run
Hafeez to McDermott, 2 runs
Hafeez to Carey, OUT
Hafeez to Carey, no run
Hafeez to Carey, no run
End of over 12: Australia 62/4
Shadab to Maxwell, no run
Shadab to Carey, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Marsh, OUT
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, no run
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, no run
End of over 11: Australia 60/3
Hasan Ali to Marsh, no run
Hasan Ali to Marsh, no run
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, FOUR
Hasan Ali to Marsh, 1 run
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 1 run
Hasan Ali brought into the attack
End of over 10: Australia 53/3
Shadab Khan to Marsh, FOUR
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Marsh, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Marsh, no run
Shadab Khan to Maxwell, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Marsh, 1 run
End of over 9: Australia 45/3
Imad Wasim to Marsh, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Marsh, no run
Imad Wasim to Maxwell, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Marsh, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Maxwell, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Marsh, 1 run
End of over 8: Australia 40/3
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Marsh, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Marsh, no run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, wide, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Marsh, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, 1 run
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Marsh, 1 run
End of over 7: Australia 34/3
Shadab to Marsh, 1 run
Shadab to Maxwell, 1 run
Shadab to Marsh, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Finch, OUT, Finch mishits it. Shadab strikes in his first over.
Shadab Khan to Marsh, 1 run
Shadab Khan to Marsh, 2 runs
End of over 6: Australia 28/2
Faheem to Finch, no run
Faheem to Marsh, 1 run
Faheem to Finch, 1 run, direct hit but Finch is safely in
Faheem to Finch, FOUR, bye
Faheem to Marsh, 3 runs
Faheem to Marsh, no run
End of over 5: Australia 19/2
Imad to Chris Lynn, OUT, what a classic acrobatic catch! Chris Lynn gone
Imad to Chris Lynn, no run
Imad to Chris Lynn, wide, 1 run
Imad to Chris Lynn, no run
Imad to Chris Lynn, no run
Imad to Chris Lynn, no run
Imad to Chris Lynn, no run
End of over 4: Australia 18/1
Faheem to Chris Lynn, 1 run
Faheem to Chris Lynn, no run
Faheem to Chris Lynn, SIX, what a shot!
Faheem to Chris Lynn, no run
Faheem to Chris Lynn, no run
Faheem to Chris Lynn, no run
End of over 3: Australia 11/0
Short isn't happy. Finch is furious too. He's having a long chat with the umpire before finally cooling down.
Imad Finch, no run, review taken, RUN OUT
Imad Wasim to Short, 1 run, bye
Imad Wasim to Short, no run
Imad Wasim to Finch, 1 run, bye
Imad Waism to Finch, FOUR, bye
Imad Wasim to Finch, no run
End of over 2: Pakistan 5/0
Faheem to Short, no run
Faheem to Short, no run
Faheem to Finch, 1 run
Faheem to Short, 1 run
Faheem to Short, no run
Faheem To Short, no run
End of over 1: Australia
Imad Wasim to Short, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Finch, 1 run
Imad Wasim to Finch , no run
Imad Wasim to Finch , no run
Imad Wasim to Finch , 1 run
Imad Wasim to Short, 1 run
Babar Azam (45) and Mohammad Hafeez (40) helped Pakistan post 147/6 in the second Twenty20 International against Australia at Dubai Cricket Stadium in UAE on Friday.
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End of over 20: Pakistan 147/6
Tye to Faheem, 1 run
Tye to Faheem Ashraf, SIX
Tye to Imad Wasim, 1 run
Tye to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run
Tye to Faheem Ashraf, 2 runs
Tye to Faheem Ashraf, FOUR
End of over 19: Pakistan 132/6
Nile to Imad Wasim, 1 run
Nile on a hat-trick
Nile to Hasan Ali, OUT, Mitchell Marsh takes a stunner
Nile to Malik, OUT
Nile to Faheem, 1 run
Nile to Malik, 1 run
Nile to Faheem, 1 run
End of over 18: Pakistan 128/4
Tye to Malik, 2 runs
Tye to Faheem, 1 run
Tye to Faheem, wide, 1 run
Tye to Malik, 1 run
Tye to Faheem Ashraf, 1 run
Tye to Malik, 1 run
Tye to Malik, FOUR
End of over 17: Pakistan 11/3
Stanlake to Asif Ali, OUT
Stanlake to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
Stanlake to Asif Ali, 1 run
Stanlake to Asif Ali, SIX
Stanlake to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
Stanlake to Asif Ali, 1 run
End of over 16: Pakistan 107/3
Short to Asif Ali, 1 run
Short to Asif Ali, no run
Asif Ali walks in
Short to Babar Azam, OUT
Short to Babar Azam, no run
Short to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
Short to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 14: Pakistan 104/2
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run
Zampa to Shoaib Malik, 1 run
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run
Zampa to Shoaib Mlaik, 1 run
Zampa to Shoaib Malik, no run
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run, that's 100 for Pakistan
End of over 14: Pakistan 99/2
Stanlake to Hafeez, OUT, Hafeez departs
Stanlake to Hafeez, no run
Stanlake to Hafeez, SIX
Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run
Stanlake to Babar Azam, 2 runs
Stanlake to Babar Azam, no run
End of over 13: Pakistan 90/1
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run
Zampa to Babar Azam, no run
Zampa to Babar Azam, no run
Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run
Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run
End of over 12: Pakistan 86/1
Tye to Hafeez, 1 run
Tye to Babar, 1 run
Tye to Hafeez, 1 run
Tye to Babar, 1 run
Tye to Hafeez, 1 run
Tye to Hafeez, FOUR
End of over 11: Pakistan 77/1
Short to Hafeez, 1 run
Short to Babar, 1 run
Short to Babar, 2 runs
Short to Babar, 2 runs
Short to Hafeez, 1 run
Short to Babar, 1 run
End of over 10: Pakistan 69/1
Zampa to Babar, 1 run
Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run, dropped
Zampa to Babar, 1 run
Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run
Zampa to Hafeez, no run
Zampa to Babar, 1 run
End of over 9: Pakistan 64/1
Short to Babar, 1 run
Short to Hafeez, 1 run
Short to Hafeez, no run
Short to Babar, 1 run
Short to Hafeez, 1 run
D'ARCY Short to Babar, 1 run
End of over 8: Pakistan 59/1
Zampa to Hafeez, no run
Zampa to Hafeez, no run
Zampa to Babar, 1 run
Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run
Zampa to Hafeez, no run
Zampa to Hafeez, SIX
End of over 7: Pakistan 51/1
Mitchell Marsh to Babar, no run
Mitchell Marsh to Babar, no run
Mitchell Marsh to Babar, no run
Mitchell Marsh to Hafeez, 1 run
Mitchell Marsh to Hafeez, FOUR, intelligent shot selection
Mitchell Marsh to Hafeez, no run
End of over 6: Pakistan 46/1
Tye to Hafeez, 1 run
Tye to Hafeez, no run
Tye to Hafeez, no run
Tye to Hafeez, no run
Tye to Hafeez, wide, 1 run
Tye to Hafeez, wide, 1 run
Tye to Hafeez, 2 runs, in the air and Hafeez to get two run
Tye to Babar, 1 run
End of over 5: Pakistan 40/1
Stanlake to Hafeez, no run
Stanlake to Hafeez, FOUR, no protection and Hafeez gets a boundary
Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run
Stanlake to Babar Azam, FOUR, classy shot from Babar, phew!
Stanlake to Hafeez, 1 run
Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run
End of over 4: Pakistan 29/1
Nile to Mohammad Hafeez, no run
Hafeez walks in to bat as Zaman departs
Nile to Fakhar Zaman, no run, appeal for caught behind, review taken. There's is a fine edge. Given out
Nile to Babar Azam, 1 run
Nile to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run
Nile to Babar Azam, 1 run
Nile to Babar Azam, FOUR, beautifully placed and timed
End of over 3: Pakistan 22/0
Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run
Stanlake to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run, bye
Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run
Stanlake to Babar Azam, no run
Stanlake to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run
Stanlake to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR
End of over 2: Pakistan 14/0
Nile to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run
Nile to Fakhar Zaman, no run
Nile to Fakhar Zaman, no run
Nile to Fakhar Zaman, 2 runs
Nile to Babar, 1 run, very sharp run
Nile to Babar Azam, great shot, FOUR, amazing timing from Babar.
Nathan Coulter-Nile gets the ball
End of over 1: Pakistan 6/0
Maxwell to Fakhar Zaman, 2 runs, top edge but falls safely.
Maxwell to Babar Azam, 1 run
Maxwell to Babar Zam, wide, 1 run
Maxwell to Babar Azam, no run
Maxwell to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run, run out opportunity missed. big opportunity gone begging.
Maxwell to Fakhar Zaman, no run, good shot but straight to the fielder.
Maxwell to Babar Azam, 1 run, Pakistan, Babar off the mark.
Babar Azam and Fakhar Azam in the middle to open the batting for Pakistan. Glenn Maxwell gets the first over.
It's a must-win game for Australia.
Pakistan have made one change, bringing in Shoaib Malik for Hussain Talat while Mitch Marsh in for Ashton Agar for Australia.
The match is scheduled to begin at 9pm according to Pakistan Time.
The News to bring ball by ball coverage for the match.
Justin Langer: "I thought we were good in the field the other night but our batting was a disaster. That's one are we need to get better. I just don't think our plans were great. Hopefully two games left to win the series, and our guys are very aware of that. They're experienced T20 players, hopefully they can change that tonight. If you look at our line-up it's almost like everything or nothing at times, but even the best players need to adapt."
Dubai: Pakistan have won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the second Twenty20 at Dubai Cricket Stadium in UAE on Friday.
Pakistan will take on Australia in second T20 of three-match series in Dubai today at 09:00 pm.
The News will cover the match live.
After beating Australia comprehensively in the first match in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday, Pakistan is now firmly placed at no one position with 134 points on the ICC Ranking.
ICC Preview: Australia could consider bringing back all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who was rested for the first game, to bring some stability to the side. But apart from that, they don't have any other batting options in the squad. They have plenty of high-quality bowling reserves – Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon didn't play the first match. Australia could consider making some changes in that department, although their bowling wasn't so much an issue in Abu Dhabi. The selectors might want to slot in Starc in the XI, considering that apart from being a top-quality left-arm quick, he also has the skill to hit a long ball.
Opener Babar Azam struck an unbeaten 68 while spinner Imad Wasim capped a return to international cricket with three wickets as Pakistan crushed Australia by 66 runs in opening match.
Azam hit five fours and a six in his 55-ball innings as Pakistan made 155-8 before Wasim (3-20) ripped apart Australia’s top order as they slumped to 89 all out -- their joint-third lowest T20 score -- at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
The win gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and also their biggest T20 victory over Australia, improving upon the 45-run win they achieved in Harare in July.
Only twice have Australia scored fewer runs in a T20 international, making just 79 against England at Southampton in 2005 and 86 in a defeat by India at Dhaka four years ago.
Left-arm spinner Wasim, playing his first match for Pakistan since October last year, bowled both Australian openers, Aaron Finch (nought) and D’Arcy Short (four), in the first over of their innings.
Medium pacer Faheem Ashraf, who finished with 2-10, then dismissed Glenn Maxwell (two) and Chris Lynn (14) to further derail the Australians.
Ben McDermott was run out without scoring before Wasim came back into the attack to dismiss Alex Carey for one, leaving Australia in tatters at 22-6.
Only a fighting knock of 34 from Nathan Coulter-Nile, the last man out, ensured Australia didn’t succumb to their lowest T20 total.
Paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with 2-23 while Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan took a wicket each.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed praised an allround performance.
"Our bowling attack is good, so we try to put some runs on the board and back ourselves to defend," said Sarfraz.
"Babar Azam and Hafeez batted beautifully and when we bowl we always try to take wickets when we have the ball in our hands."
Finch said the defeat was embarrasing.
"It’s pretty embarrassing, to be fair," said Finch. "I think we were a little bit one-dimensional while batting, but that’s a learning experience and I would say Pakistan have got a lot of variety in their bowling."
Earlier, Pakistan were lifted by Azam and Mohammad Hafeez (39) as they added 73 for the second wicket in quick time.
But once Hafeez fell in the 14th over, Pakistan lost six wickets for just 28 runs with Sarfraz, Ashraf and Wasim falling without scoring while Shadab made just one.
It was left to Azam to keep one end intact during his sixth T20 half-century while Hasan used the long handle effectively, hitting two boundaries and a six in a handy 17 off eight balls to help add 41 in the last five overs.
Billy Stanlake (3-21) and Andre Tye (3-24) were the successful Australia bowlers.
The third T20 international will be played in Dubai on Sunday.
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