1 week Ago By Jonathan Drennan
Matt Short gets Australia off the mark with three runs on his first ball that really should’ve been four, but the ball got stuck on the turf just short of the boundary. Fraser-McGurk onto strike and then loads up with three consecutive fours, but really should’ve been caught on the third, chance missed for Naseem Shah who absolutely should have caught him. Fraser-McGurk then follows up with a six.
Some start. He looks confident, but when doesn’t he? Australia 0-21 With so much change in the world, there is generally one thing we can rely on, a talented collection of Pakistan quicks. Shaheen Shah Afridi and particularly Haris Rauf who did so well in the ODI series victory will be looking to cause havoc tonight on the SCG wicket.
It should be a great early contest with these men looking to lay down their mark on the Aussie openers tonight. Haris Rauf of Pakistan Credit: Getty Images Australia have won the toss and have elected to have a bat on a pretty decent looking track at the SCG. As I said earlier Glenn Maxwell had a great knock of 43 runs in the shortened seven-over bash in Brisbane and he will be looking to continue that momentum this evening in Sydney.
There is lots of room to improve, with Australian openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short looking to get some confidence and build a decent partnership in Sydney. Australia’s Adam Zampa celebrates in the first game of the T20 series with Pakistan. Credit: AP Tonight belongs to Pakistan of course, but next Friday we have the first Test against India and Matthew Hayden has given his thoughts to Tom Decent here on the elevation of Nathan McSweeney to the top of the Australian order.
It’s tough at the top and the Australian selectors decision to back a non-specialist opener in McSweeney will soon be answered in Perth. Big chance: New Australian Test opener Nathan McSweeney. Credit: Getty Images Good evening and welcome to the second game of the Twenty20 series between Australia and Pakistan from Sydney on a perfect night for it.
Two days ago was anything but at the Gabba. I almost felt I was back home in Belfast as a schoolboy, rain, lightning and seven hours of hasty cricket played at warp speed after a three-hour delay. Memories.
Australia still managed a 29-run victory over Pakistan, with Glenn Maxwell getting some confidence back with the bat with 43 runs off 19 balls after a tough ODI series against the same opposition. I’ve checked the rain radar and we are all good for this evening at the SCG. At the ground, we have the great Tom Decent giving his expert views.
I’m really looking forward to this. Nathan Ellis celebrates taking the wicket of Mohammad Irfan Khan in Brisbane. Credit: Getty Images.
