Pakistan clinch T20 series after thrilling win
Pakistan celebrate Mike Hussey’s dismissal in the first Twenty20. Australia will be be looking to show an improved batting performance in the second T20 – Photo by AFP
DUBAI: Pakistan won the second Twenty20 against Australia in a thrilling Super Over finish at the Dubai Stadium here on Friday, taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
With both tied on 151 runs at the end of 40 fascinating overs in the match, a Super over round was played for the result.
Pakistan paceman Umar Gul restricted Australian batsmen David Warner, Shane Watson and George Bailey to 11-1 before Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq hit the required runs, the winner coming off the last delivery.
The third and last match will be played here on Monday.
The match provided complete entertainment to a 25,000 sell-out holiday crowd, who were left on the edges of their seat as both the teams tussled for victory in the 40 overs.
Pakistan had made 151-4 with Mohammad Hafeez (45), Nasir Jamshed (45) and Kamran Akmal (43 not out) contributing with the bat.
George Bailey led the Australian run chase with a solid 42.
Australia needed 21 off the last two overs as Bailey hit two leg-side boundaries off Gul but his dismissal, with his team needing 10 off the final over it looked Pakistan were favourites.
Pat Cummins hit Abdul Razzaq over long-on to tie the score but off the last ball the Australian batsman was caught, making it the sixth tied match in all Tweny20 cricket.
David Warner started Australia’s run chase with a brilliant 31 off just 19 balls, hitting two boundaries and a six off Hafeez’s first over.
But once Saeed Ajmal came to bowl, the Australian innings faltered. Ajmal bowled Warner and then had Watson (33), taking his tally to 58 in Twenty20 cricket, the joint top bowler along with countryman Shahid Afridi.
Watson had hit two boundaries and two sixes during his 28-ball knock.
Michael Hussey (23) and Bailey took the secore to 109 before Hussey holed out to Gul. Australia at that point needed 43 off the last five overs.
Hafeez said he was delighted with the series win.
“It was an exciting finish,” said Hafeez. “It was tense, but you know Twenty20 cricket can bring such tense moments. In the end I am happy that we won, even though it was in the Super over. I think we fought well in the 40 overs.”Bailey was disappointed at the loss.
“It was exciting finish. I think our bowling was good but we couldn’t finish that game well,” said Bailey.
Earlier Hafeez hit three boundaries in Cummins’ first over of the match but fellow opener Imran Nazir was bowled for nought in Mitchell Starc’s second over.
Hafeez and Jamshed shared a solid 76-run partnership for the second wicket as both charghed the Australian bowling with some aggressive batting. Jamshed hit four boundaries and a six during his 36-ball knock.
He fell to a superb catch by Dan Christian off Cummins, as the fielder lunged backward and held the ball with left hand.
Hafeez hit six boundaries during his 42-ball knock.
Kamran added 46 for the fourth wicket with his younger brother Umar who made 13.
Kamran hit six boundaries during his knock, helping Pakistan to 90 runs in the last 10 overs.
Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez (capt), Imran Nazir, Nasir Jamshed, Kamran Akmal (wk), Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Raza Hasan, Saeed Ajmal
Australia: DA Warner, SR Watson, MEK Hussey, DJ Hussey, GJ Bailey (capt), CL White, MS Wade (wk), DT Christian, GB Hogg, PJ Cummins, MA Starc
Umpires: Shozab Raza (Pakistan) and Zameer Haider (Pakistan)
TV umpire: Ahsan Raza (Pakistan)
Match referee: RS Mahanama (Sri Lanka)
Captaincy and Fielding was the major difference that won us the crunch game.
Ref comments about Pakistan future: Fawad Alam needs to be in the Test and One-Day sides as a specialist middle-order batsman. We have been wasting his talent by choosing him “only” in T20s. He is NOT a T20 player.
We have the best spinners. I think the combination of hafeez, akmal and raza is match winning. we should be going forward with this, no politics from seniors players now for god sake. Afridi and younis can relax and see pakistan win now.
Sooner PCB make Hafeez captain of ODI as well the better it will be. He took risks which led to victory. Great game!
After long long time, our nation get big news to defeat Australia in all fields. We expect from the PCB that this Pakistani team will continue in future for One Day and T20.
Fantastic, Glorious win by pakistan. it was an exciting match of pakistan i have ever seen pakistan have won, last time i had seen a group match of pakistan with india in 2007 world t20, which also went through super over but ultimately india had get rid of pakistan. that was incredible that pak won that a very close match.
it was the most absorbing cricket match (t20) ever seen…2 quality sides.battling hard…when bowlers give loose ball, batsmen hit them for boundaries and vice versa….a true example of sea-saw battle….it was not a fluke match like ipl, big bash etc where batsmen just piling 15 runs in an over chasing above 200….it was aproper cricket match with both sides evenly balanced…good luck Pakistan for T20 WC…
Great performance, two youngsters Jamshed and Raza along with Asad should be allowed to settle down in the team. Kamran Akmal should be included in the team as specialist batsman and wicket keeping should be done by specialist wicket keeper. Hafeez is an excellent captain.
Team Pakistan, you are my Heroes! You have done this country so proud. The way you kept your cool in the nerve wrecking final moments of the match is amazing. You are the people which makes one reaffirm faith in this otherwise totally corrupt country. Heroes like you are a model for the rulers of this country as you put this country above everything even when paid paltry pages.
Again heartiest congratulations to you for doing us so proud. You go Team Pakistan! The entire nation is proud of you!
this was the first ever super over in a T20I,and was won by pakistan…..yaaayy
Young pakistan team shows lot of promise and congrats
Great Going I think this team can easily beat England who is the Top team in ODI but we Are the Top team of T20 Mashallah
Congratulation to Pakistan and the team
Congrats Pakistan. Hafeez did good job. Bailey’s captaincy was not of that standard. His choice of Cummins for the super over was a disaster for the Aussies. The chap has no experience of this kind of situation. Instead he should have given the ball to experienced Watson. However, it is a game and finished with great sort of thrills.
Well.. they should win the this upcoming T20 world cup for Saeed Ajmal. Who undoubtedly deserved to be on the narrow list of the ICC best bowler of the year. He has giving spin bowling a new dimension.
Kamran Akmal’s batting was amazing in both T20 matches., i really enjoyed watching him. He was NOT OUT in both matches and made 74 runs in both T20. Great come back by Kamran Akmal. I always had faith on him. we won because of him both t20.
It was outstanding performance by our fighters. We are proud of them.These are PAKISTANIS,,BRAVO BRAVO……………..
M.KARIM NASEERUDDIN
Well played,we have a good team.best of luck.
well done to the captain.
Well done PAK TEAM. KEEP UP THE PAK NATION SIMILAR SPIRIT.
Yes Nasir Jamshed, Saeed Ajmal and then Akmal brothers. Umar Gul has come back and dont forget Abdul Razzaq. I think Pak team played well in batting, fielding, and bowling and they should keep up the momentum and spirits high and come back after winning T20 world cup. Also Misbah and Afrdi are old and should now go and let the new guys play..
Great match , watching Pakistan hold their nerve till the end after a long time. If they keep going like this the current Pakistan team may yet show everyone what Pakistan is capable of on a level playing field.
While we are all praising Hafeez and his nerves, can someone explain – Why if Razzaq was not good enough to bowl in the first T20 and not good enough in the 2nd T20, why was he given the lone most important over of the match. He wasnt good enough to bowl a single untill the crunch time. What is this? Hafeez there is no competition – PLZ PLAY LIKE A TEAM.
Abdul Razzaq came out the trap with flying color.
Politics has seeped into all sports.
Now you can see the difference of not involving Shahid Afridi
It could be better if afridi was there and we don’t. Have to wait to the super over.shahid is one of the most successful T 20. Bowlers and we see what ajmal did alone and with afridi pakistan spin is invincible
To regain faith and confidence we have to learn to do the unthinkable. There is a need to eliminate all those who think they are indispensible. The political theory of Pakistani leadership that if they are not in power the country will be doomed seems to have invaded the minds of some of our good players. There is a need to show these self proclaimed gods that matches could be won without them then possibly they start behaving like a normal human being.
How true
AGREED,HIS TIME IS UP NOW
Agree!
congrats to pakistani team on winning the t20 series ……….exciting match , pakistan won in the crucial super over
The young players are playing so beautifully that future of legend Shahid Afridi or for that matter Misbahul Haq is at risk of elimination unless they regain their lost pride. Bravo! Keep it up
Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait / zaidiformerdiplomat@hotmail.com
Kamran Akmal batting like Viv Richard in 2nd T20 and Nasir Jamshed batting like Clive Llyod of West Indies.Put Nasir Jamshed in all format of games.He looks very different from modern day players.Great future ahead!
Couldn’t agree more. Nasir Jamshed definetly should be included in all formats. At this tender age, he has as much potential as Mohammad Azhar, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal etc. Fawad Alam another left hander deserve a chance. Not sure what he did in the ground to be out of the ODI side.
Because Fawad Alam is the brother of misbah
Please do not insult the great Viv and Clive.
Definitely these Pakistan brothers facing much stronger opposition in bowling terms where most teams has battery of fast bowlers compared to Viv and Clive era when only Windies used to have fast bowlers followed by Australia and partly England.Those days are gone.Kamran Akmal and Nasir Jamshed were facing much more hostile pace bowlers than what those yester year greats have faced in their career.
Where is the insult of Viv & Clive . These young guns of Pakistan cricket team played well . Viv & Clive were the better cricketers of their time and these are new emerging players who have in them tremendous potential .
In short Pakistan has produced unmatched potential and the track record of Pakistan speaks everything against other cricketing nations in Asia. You can compare the results with either India , Sirilanka or Bangladesh . This is on the record not on assumptions .