CANBERRA: Master batsman Steve Smith stroked a faultless unbeaten 80 from 51 balls as Australia outgunned Pakistan by seven wickets in Canberra to go 1-0 up in their three-match Twenty20 International series.

Top-ranked Pakistan set a competitive 150 for six off their 20 overs at the Manuka Oval, with skipper Babar Azam hitting his second consecutive half-century and Iftikhar Ahmed clubbing a quickfire 62.

But their bowling attack was no match for Smith, who brought up his fourth 50 in the short format off 36 balls, with six fours and one big six, as Australia reached 151 for three with nine balls to spare.

It put them 1-0 up after the opening match in Sydney on Sunday was abandoned due to rain.

“The way we kept taking wickets throughout the innings was really important because we know how damaging Pakistan can be in the Powerplay or at the end, so to get wickets consistently was the key,” Australia captain Aaron Finch said. “Everyone is playing their roles really well, and we’ve got guys like Steve, who does what he does best.”

Australia are on a hot T20 streak, having not been beaten in their last seven matches.

“Credit goes to Smith,” said Babar. “He took the game away with a magnificent innings. We are very disappointed. We didn’t bat well in the Powerplay.”

Pakistan, at least, managed to do what Sri Lanka couldn’t in the previous series — removed David Warner— but they had no answers for the peerless Smith, who put on a clinic of clean hitting.

Warner had been in fantastic touch after scoring 219 without losing his wicket in four previous innings, and he ominously smashed 16 off slow left-armer Imad Wasim’s opening over.

However, the explosive opener was clean bowled by paceman Mohammad Amir for 20, missing a drive, and when Finch fell for 17 to veteran seamer Mohammad Irfan, Pakistan’s hopes were up.

But with Smith at the wicket, it was never going to be easy and the experienced campaigner picked the gaps and found the boundary ropes with impeccably timed shots, while grabbing quick singles.

With Ben McDermott at the other end, he pushed the score to 86 for two off the first 10 overs before his partner fell lbw to Imad for 21.

It left Smith, who struck hit 11 fours and a six, and Ashton Turner with 45 runs to win off 42 balls, which they managed comfortably.

“It was nice to be there at the end to get the boys home,” man-of-the-match Smith said. “It was probably a 170-ish wicket, I reckon, so our side bowled beautifully. It was just about timing in the end.”

With both sides unchanged from Sydney, Pakistan elected to bat after winning the toss but their hopes of a statement innings were dashed by regular top order wickets.

Babar — the world’s top-ranked T20 batsman — again anchored the Pakistan innings with a 38-ball 50 as his team-mates fell around him until he found support from Iftikhar, who notched a maiden, and entertaining, half-century.

After Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat, opener Fakhar Zaman, desperately in need of runs, was left floundering against Pat Cummins and was out for two, driving to Warner at mid-off.

Haris Sohail came to the crease but only lasted nine balls, gone for six.

It took the wind out of Pakistan’s sails, and the runs dried up before Babar and Mohammad Rizwan began to push the scoreboard along — until left-arm spinner Ashton Agar dismissed Rizwan and then Asif Ali in quick succession.

Babar finally found a reliable partner in Iftikhar before the captain was removed for 50 by a piece of fielding magic from Warner, who threw down the stumps from long-range.

Iftikhar ensured Pakistan post competitive total by smashing 22 off the penultimate over from Richardson.

Australia will seek to seal the series with victory in Perth on Friday.

Scoreboard

PAKISTAN:

Fakhar Zaman c Warner b Cummins 2
Babar Azam run out 50
Haris Sohail c and b Richardson 6
Mohammad Rizwan st Carey b Agar 4
Asif Ali c Cummins b Agar 4
Iftikhar Ahmed not out 62
Imad Wasim run out 11
Wahab Riaz not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-1) 1

TOTAL (for six wkts, 20 overs) 150

FALL OF WKTS: 1-22, 2-29, 3-62, 4-70, 5-106, 6-146.

DID NOT BAT: Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan

BOWLING: Starc 4-0-25-0; Richardson 4-0-51-1; Cummins 4-0-19-1; Zampa 4-0-31-0; Agar 4-0-23-2.

AUSTRALIA:

D.A. Warner b Amir 20
A.J. Finch c Babar b Irfan 17
S.P.D. Smith not out 80
B.R. McDermott lbw b Imad 21
A. Turner not out 8

EXTRAS (W-3, NB-2) 5

TOTAL (for three wkts, 18.3 overs) 151

FALL OF WKTS: 1-30, 2-48, 3-106.

DID NOT BAT: A.T. Carey, A.C. Agar, P.J. Cummins, M.A. Starc, K.W. Richardson, A. Zampa.

BOWLING: Mohammad Irfan 4-0-27-1; Mohammad Amir 3.3-0-32-1 (2w); Imad Wasim 4-0-34-1; Shadab Khan 4-0-25-0; Wahab Riaz 3-0-32-0 (2nb, 1w).

RESULT: Australia won by seven wickets to lead three-match series 1-0.

UMPIRES: G.A. Abood (Australia) and S.A.J. Craig (Australia)

TV UMPIRE: P. Wilson (Australia)

MATCH REFEREE: J. Srinath (India).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Steve Smith.

FIRST MATCH: Sydney, abandoned.

THIRD MATCH: Perth (D/N), Friday.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2019