SYDNEY: Haris Rauf claimed 4-22 as Pakistan restricted Australia to 147-9 in the second clash of their T20 series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.
Following a rip-roaring start by Australia, Pakistan bowled beautifully to peg them back, with Abbas Afridi (3-17) also very impressive.
But they were let down by sloppy fielding with a slew of dropped catches.
Matthew Short top-scored with 32.
Opting to bat first in front of a big crowd, the hosts clobbered 21 runs in the opening over off Shaheen Afridi.
Jake Fraser-McGurk blasted 18 of them, but was fortunate following being dropped by Naseem on the fourth ball he faced.
The pair stitched together a highly entertaining 52-run opening stand off just 22 balls before Haris Rauf struck twice in three deliveries.
Following tempting Fraser-McGurk (20) into another slog that was collected in the deep by Agha, he enticed a leading edge from Josh Inglis that was taken at point by Sufiyan.
After a brisk beginning, where Australia’s top order was likely to post a good total but Pakistan’s bowlers fought back with precision. Harris Rauf took four while Abbas Afridi claimed three wickets during the second encounter against the hosts.
Pakistan Abbas Afridi also claimed the wicket of Australian opener Matthew who made 32 off 17 deliveries.
Pakistan are set a target of 148 runs 🎯 #AUSvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/W4dPeI9j49
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) November 16, 2024
Haris Rauf claimed wickets getting Jake Fraser-McGurk and Josh Inglis out in his first over of the match.
Earlier, Australia made a blistering start in the second T20I against Pakistan following winning the toss and choosing to bat first.
Australia captain Josh Inglis won the toss and chose to bat Saturday in the second game of the three-match T20 series against Pakistan at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia lead 1-0 following winning a rain-hit clash reduced to seven overs a side in Brisbane on Thursday by 29 runs.
Pakistan, who won the preceding one-day series 2-1, made just one change, with Sufiyan Muqeem replacing Haseebullah Khan.
2nd T20I – Pakistan vs Australia
Toss: Australia win the toss and elect to bat first.#AUSvPAK | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/g2b2YQoYTy
— Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2024-25 (@TheRealPCB_Live) November 16, 2024
Australia: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson.
Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Salman Agha, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Sufiyan Muqeem.
