 The second T20I between Australia and Pakistan will be played at the same
venue at Birmingham in Edgbaston and will see the Aussies look to overcome a 0-1
lead that Pakistan has taken over them. The first game had seen the two teams
battle it out rather well and get to the situation where the semi-finals of the
World T20 had reached, but, in the end, the Pakistanis were better prepared on
this occasion and went through.
Click for Live Score Card of Pakistan Vs Australia
What I liked about the side in the previous game was their positive attitude.
After all, it is not so easy to win the toss and bat first in a T20I after one
has lost the game only last time against the same opposition. More so, when
the target set is almost similar to the one in which the game was lost. However,
Pakistan did just that and ensured that they bowled much better than what they
had in the previous game.
Though Shoaib Akhtar's bowling was a bit of a worry, the good news for Pakistan
is that it was only Akhtar who really went for any runs. Mohammad Aamer was
almost brilliant in the first spell, whereas the spinners dominated the opposition
so much that it remains to be seen how will the Aussies cope with them in the
second game as well.
Talking of Pakistan's batsmen, they need to start off well in the second game.
At one stage in the first game, the side looked like they would struggle to
get to a total of even 140, before that dash by Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik
helped them to a good enough total. Salman Butt and Shahid Afridi needs
to take more onus onto themselves to ensure they get going.
Australia, on the other hand, need to reassess whether they need to bowl with
two spinners. After all, the Pakistanis, like the other Asian sides are goof
players of spin bowling and that will mean that the Aussies will need to strategise
differently. Time for them to make some changes to the mindset.
The batting was decent for Australia, but the big question that there is will
be related to the form of Michael Clarke. The manner in which he is batting
in the T20 format of the game, makes one believe that the time has come for
him to bat at the number five or six position and send a Cameron White or David
Hussey up the order.
One feels that the Aussies will make it 1-1 in this game.
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