Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
20 | 11 Runs 2 Wkts | AUS: 136/8 (12 runs required, RR: 6.80)

  • Andrew Tye2 (1b)
  • Adam Zampa0 (0b)
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi4-0-35-2
  • Hasan Ali4-0-32-0

11.40pm That's it from us for this second T20I. Pakistan were the dominant team, and though Maxwell, and later Coulter-Nile, injected some excitement in the chase, Australia were always playing catch-up. When Pakistan batted, it seemed like they had been a little sluggish, but their bowlers were outstanding. Imad Wasim gave up only 8 runs in 4 overs, and the Australian batsmen were tied down from the start. By the time Maxwell found his groove, the asking rate had soared. Pakistan have now won the series, and the final T20I will be a dead rubber. This is Saurabh Somani, signing off on behalf of Sreshth Shah.

11.31pm Imad Wasim is the Man of the Match. "I've been doing it for a while, I enjoy bowling in the Powerplay. Today's wicket was different to Abu Dhabi, it was supporting spinners. I've been working really hard, even when I was out of the team. Credit goes to Azhar Mahmood as well (bowling coach), I've been working with him. I knew they weren't going to attack me, because they had six wickets left, so I thought I'll flight it. If the batsmen are hitting me with hard hands, I try to bowl slow, otherwise I stick to my basics."

Aaron Finch: "We were probably just a bit tentative in the Powerplay. 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. We'll come out in Game 3 and give it our best. All the chatter around was around the wicket and our positive intent. We allowed them to bowl a lot of dot balls, the pressure built and the run-rate goes from 7 to 9 pretty quickly."

Sarfraz Ahmed: "It's not easy to win 10 series on the trot in the T20 format. The way we have played and improved has been very good. We have improved batting, bowling and fielding, and our management and selection committee deserves credit. We have given confidence to all our players. 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. He bowled well in a tough situation. The spinners are also doing well. Imad's arrival had brought good balance, and all the bowlers are doing really well, spinners as well as pacers. My strategy was to bring Hasan in in the fifth or sixth over, but seeing the pitch, I thought he'd work better later on that's why I brought him on late. I felt we played too many dot balls while batting, if we cut that down then we can get to 160-170. We'll try to give those on the bench a go in the last game."

Dr.Tahir: "Its really sad that there is no T20 WC this year. I would love to see this Pakistan T20 side play in a T20 World cup. It would have been some task beating them too. "

Mustafa Moudi: "None of Aus batsman had a S/R higher than 100 other than these 2, Specially the top 3 consumed 24 Balls(4 overs) extra than what they scored. Definitely, The main reason for their loss !!"

19.6
2
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Tye, 2 runs, Pakistan have won the series, taking a 2-0 lead with one to play It's their tenth T20I series win in a row. The ball itself was on legstump and driven wide of long-on, but it's all academic. Maxwell is distraught in the dugout. Pakistan have won by 11 runs, and Sarfraz keeps his record intact - he's never captained Pakistan to a loss in a T20I series
19.5
W
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Coulter-Nile, OUT, fuller ball on the stumps and Coulter-Nile makes good contact, but sends it soaring to the man on the cover fence, and Asif Ali takes a few steps to his left and holds on comfortably.

NM Coulter-Nile c Asif Ali b Shaheen Shah Afridi 27 (17b 0x4 3x6) SR: 158.82

19.4
2
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Coulter-Nile, 2 runs, slashed away to third man and they can only get two. So Australia need 14 off 2 balls and it's all but over

16 needed off 3 balls, but the batsmen have crossed. Coulter-Nile needs some more clubbed sixes

19.3
W
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, OUT, is that the match for Pakistan? Maxwell got it off the toe-end and it went miles in the air. Shoaib Malik at long-on kept calm, settled in under it and clutched it to his chest. No chance of the ball popping out. Maxwell's entertaining knock ends. And you'd think so do Australia's chances

GJ Maxwell c Shoaib Malik b Shaheen Shah Afridi 52 (37b 4x4 2x6) SR: 140.54

19.2
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Coulter-Nile, 1 run, length ball on off at normal pace, he gets it higher on the bat to cover
19.1
6
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Coulter-Nile, SIX, that's hit the roof! tried for a yorker, and Coulter-Nile cleared his leg and sent it soaring up, up, up and away! That hit the top of the tier over long-on

23 needed off the last over, Shaheen to bowl. Sarfraz in his ear, Hafeez coming up with advice, they're all clustering around the youngster.

END OF OVER:
19 | 10 Runs | AUS: 125/6 (23 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 6.57, RRR: 23.00)

  • Glenn Maxwell52 (36b)
  • Nathan Coulter-Nile18 (13b)
  • Hasan Ali4-0-32-0
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi3-0-24-0
18.6
0
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, no run, slower bouncer, beautifully bowled. Maxwell made room, but bailed out of the clubbed pull

These two have raised the 50-run stand in quick time. But the required rate is still high

18.5
1
Hasan Ali to Coulter-Nile, 1 run, good yorker, but dug out well to cover
18.4
6
Hasan Ali to Coulter-Nile, SIX, clobbered! slower ball sat up, Coulter-Nile freed his arms and sent it soaring over midwicket
18.3
1
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 1 run, fell short of the man on the point fence Shadab Khan ran in from the boundary and dived forward, but couldn't hold on. Maxwell had slashed it hard

Fahad Zahoor: "Living in australia for last 10 years I've been closey attached to the donestic circuit, the thing that led to no more back up players in the dtand is the lack of interest in cricket by the youth, majority of them are more keen to play for footy rather cricket and one of my work mate's reckon it's becuase of the sponsors and Broadcasters. "

18.2
1
Hasan Ali to Coulter-Nile, 1 run, length ball on the stumps, pulled without timing to long-on

Waleed Zahoor : "From his rollicking debut series in 2012 against Pak, to his 2014 exploits in the desert part of IPL, to that final maiden over against Pakistan, I think it's safe to say Maxwell is the king of UAE regardless of the win/loss ratio."

18.1
1
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 1 run, clubbed into the offside, but only a single to the man on the point fence

33 needed off 12 balls. Still with Pakistan you'd think, but then Maxwell's there

END OF OVER:
18 | 10 Runs | AUS: 115/6 (33 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.38, RRR: 16.50)

  • Glenn Maxwell50 (33b)
  • Nathan Coulter-Nile10 (10b)
  • Shaheen Shah Afridi3-0-24-0
  • Hasan Ali3-0-22-0
17.6
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, 1 run, back of a length on off, he tucks it away to long-on to bring up a fifty. He's been the only one who has given Australia a semblance of hope
17.5
6
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, SIX, Maxwell connects! Went for the yorker, didn't quite get it. Maxwell went back straight over the bowler's head, full face of the bat and the ball lands beyond the fence
17.5
1w
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, 1 wide, that is a bigger wide. loses his line completely and goes even more wide down leg. Maxwell tried to hit a six again and missed
17.5
1w
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, 1 wide, just misses his line slightly and it's a wide. Still a victory of sorts for the youngster, because Maxwell wanted to send it over fine leg but missed
17.4
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, no run, what an over this is turning out to be keeps it outside off that time, just wide enough and taking the pace off. Maxwell tries to drag it across to the legside, misses again
17.3
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Maxwell, no run, through him quick ball that time, angling in off a length and he tried to go for the big heave. connected with air
17.2
1
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Coulter-Nile, 1 run, another slower ball, gets it to mid-off off the toe-end of the bat. He was aiming for cow corner again
17.1
0
Shaheen Shah Afridi to Coulter-Nile, no run, swing and a miss. Slower ball wide outside off, he tries to go big and misses

Anon06: "It's not only about back-ups being ordinary. It's the first choice players too. Just 10-15 yrs ago there were players averaging 50-60 in Shield that simply couldn't get a spot in the test side because of the quality of the lineup. Players like Hodge, David Hussey, and others could've been int'l legends but just couldn't get a chance or long run.Now they're selecting players with mid 30 averages because they "had a couple good seasons." Back then, ppl have good careers without being selected."

END OF OVER:
17 | 13 Runs | AUS: 105/6 (43 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.17, RRR: 14.33)

  • Glenn Maxwell43 (29b)
  • Nathan Coulter-Nile9 (8b)
  • Hasan Ali3-0-22-0
  • Shadab Khan4-0-30-2
16.6
0
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, no run, bouncer on leg stump, he tries to get inside the line and hoick it to fine leg but misses. No wide called. Marginal that.
16.5
2
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 2 runs, misfield by Imad clubbed to cover, and Pakistan just getting a bit ragged. That went through him and Hafeez cleaned up
16.4
4
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, FOUR, Maxwell's adding salt to Hasan's wounds That went like a rocket to the point fence, cut powerfully and into the gap
16.3
2
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, 2 runs, dropped by Hafeez on the cover fence slower bouncer, he stepped away and slapped it high and wide. Hafeez got there, but shelled it
16.2
4
Hasan Ali to Maxwell, FOUR, gives himself room and slashes hard, sending the thick edge fine. Third man had no chance of cutting it off

fine leg is up

Australia 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st11AJ FinchDJM Short
2nd8AJ FinchCA Lynn
3rd12AJ FinchMR Marsh
4th30MR MarshGJ Maxwell
5th1GJ MaxwellAT Carey
6th11GJ MaxwellBR McDermott
7th59NM Coulter-NileGJ Maxwell
8th2NM Coulter-NileAJ Tye
9th2A ZampaAJ Tye