A supremely confident Australia will look to close out the series against Pakistan when they meet in the second ODI at Dubai on Friday and you can follow the live scores and blog of this game starting 9pm AEDT.
A team that wins their first two games on an away tour is bound to be confident, especially when they are up against a team whose batsmen do not quite know where will their next run come from.
That has been the story of the Pakistani batting for some time now. While some of the blame can be apportioned to the lack of experience in their order, it can also be blamed on the lack of batsmen coming through from their domestic setup.
A resigned-sounding captain Misbah ul Haq sounded spoke of the diminishing confidence among the batsmen in his press conference, a chink that the Australian bowlers will look to exploit once again.
The point to be noted from the first ODI was that it wasn’t as if the pitch was an alien one to what Pakistan wanted – it was slow and turning and should have helped their batsmen as much as it helped their spinners.
Instead, Pakistan frittered away a decent start from Ahmed Shehzad and Asad Shafiq, who had taken the score up to 1/59 in 12 overs. The others, bar Umar Akmal, failed to chip in with anything meaningful and Australia’s 255 looked as distant as the Himalayas.
Australia had gone into the game with Sean Abbott instead of Mitchell Starc, and the new-comer will be reasonably content with his effort.
However, if reports are to be believed, Australia will be looking to bring in a second mainline spinner into their line and that could mean Abbott will have to sit out. Xavier Doherty, who replaced the injured Mitchell Marsh in the squad and joined the squad after the first game, could join in.
Brad Haddin, in his press conference, spoke of how dangerous Pakistan could be when they are cornered. On other days, this might have sounded like your typical lip service from an opposition player not wanting to instigate a struggling team but Pakistan have a history of bouncing back from the dumps.
The question this time, however, is who will guide them out of where they are currently – the out-of-form Misbah, the talented but highly mercurial Umar Akmal, the most experienced Shahid Afridi or one of the other youngsters.
More of the same can be expected from Australia even as Aaron Finch searches for a few runs, while George Bailey and Glenn Maxwell look for their missing form in the middle.
James Faulkner hasn’t had too much success with the ball in recent times, which could propel to make a change too, but Australia seem to be valuing his batting skills at the number six position.
They do have Phil Hughes as one of their options to take up that slot and get more out of Maxwell and Steven Smith with the ball. Hughes had a decent series against South Africa in Zimbabwe but it all depends on the kind of plans the management has in the lead-up to the World Cup.
Join me for this second ODI between Pakistan and Australia on Friday here and you can follow the live score of this game from 9pm and post your comments below.
Sandy
Guest
Well done Australia. Thanks Suneer.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
The third and the final game on Sunday becomes a dead one but that does not mean there isn't anything to play for there. After all, each game in the lead-up to the big one next year is an important one and both teams could look to change things around in their XIs. Till then, thanks for following this blog and have a good night! Ciao!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Pakistan can only keep going back to the drawing board. At least today, they started off well, unlike in the T20I and the first ODI. They should have got 275 after that start, and even 250 would have been a competitive score. It suffices to say then, that Pakistan choked once they lost one wicket and as a result, were bowled out for 215.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
It was Glenn Maxwell's innings that pushed the Aussies towards the win. None of the other batsmen managed to bat through and get to more than David Warner's 29. It wasn't the easiest of tracks to bat on and Pakistan were in the game for a while when they had lost their third wicket for 72. Maxwell and Bailey bailed them out.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Thumped away through extra-cover for a four off Irfan. And then forehands it over mid-off to register a win. Faulkner did not move his feet, just saw the length ball and tapped it away. before moving away and slapping it over the fielder to finish off the game. Australia have won by five wickets. They have taken a 2-0 lead and won the series.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Irfan gives away just one from his ninth and then four from Raza's last over finish his spell with figures of 1/68 in 10. Seven more needed from 42.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And now Afridi has bowled out his 10. With just two from his last over, he has ended with figures of 0/36 in his 10.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A late cut for a couple through backward point and then one through in front of point for a four. Follows it up with a slogged, on-drive over mid-on for a six! A single apiece to end the over after that. 14 more needed from 60 balls for Australia to win.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Easily play out Babar's final over, taking four from it. He ends with reasonable figures of 2/52 from 10, Australia need 28 from 11.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
It's a Test match field, right from the Mitchell Johnson book of bowling. Mohammad Irfan has a short-leg, fine-leg and deep square-leg in place along with a slip. And he has faced three bouncers from Irfan already without too much confidence this over. Finally he gives himself room and smacks it through the covers for a four. Will give him some confidence after those previous three deliveries where he barely had any idea of what was going on. 33 needed from 73
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
38 needed, five wickets remaining and plenty of overs. Another wicket here will make things quite interesting. Brad Haddin has walked out at seven.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A four and a wicket! Maxwell goes and does this game still have some life? Maxwell had hit the previous ball for a four over mid-wicket and was looking to repeat that very stroke. Off the next ball, however, it takes the top edge and goes high up for Shafiq to take the catch. 81-ball 76 for Maxwell.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Just one run off that first Powerplay over bowled by Mohammad Irfan. Even made Faulkner hurry with the bounce and pace. 42 needed from 14. Babar will bowl the second over of the Powerplay.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Three from the Afridi over, three from the Babar one and that's also how much they need per over. 43 needed from 15 overs and the Batting Powerplay has been taken.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A couple of runs over the off-side and then a chip over mid-wicket for a four for Maxwell. He is really getting them off the middle of the bat, gone on to 68 from 71. 4/167 in the 33rd, 49 needed.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Jut two from Afridi's eighth over. Australia have done well to not give him any wickets tonight but he's conceded only 32. Babar replaces Raza, who had conceded 10 last over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Who are the players out because of injury? Marsh, Watson and Clarke. Let's assume all of them get fit. Clarke will definitely come back in, and will replace one of Smith and Bailey? It will then be down to who is in what kind of form in the lead-up to the World Cup. Watson and Marsh pose a more difficult question, if both are fit. I still think Watson has a place in the side and he could replace Faulkner. Where will he bat is a vital question. The number three slot has been tested out and so far, both Marsh and Smith have auditioned well for it. So if Watson does not open and he doesn't bat three, then he could be sent in after Maxwell at six - wonder if that's a position he is comfortable with. Given there's Marsh breathing down his neck, he could well be okay with batting there. Smith has scored a century last game, but he needs to translate his Test match form into ODI runs more consistently. That's where Watson could do battle with him and if he does win that one, Marsh could come in for Faulkner. In short, a lot of who makes the XI will depend on who is fit and who is in form closer to the tournament. If Smith, in the upcoming 10 games, ends up with, say, five scores of more than 50 of which there are two 100s. Will be hard to drop. Similarly, if he fails to get going like tonight, Watson could get a freeway. Assuming Watson can regain his fitness well before the World Cup and most of his previous ODI form, I will put him at three, Marsh at six and Smith out of the XI. Watson's experience counts for something in the absence of Bailey. My XI: Finch, Warner, Watson, Clarke, Maxwell, Marsh, Haddin, Johnson, Starc, Lyon, .
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
The umpiring and the whole set up here has been amateurish. That was probably out but there was a missing frame and that was not conclusive.
Brains of a bimbo (Atgm)
Guest
Both in the squad,wt bout u made up ur mind yet?
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Appeal for run-out and Bailey could be gone here! Okay, so this is a 50-50 call. Replays suggest that either decision would leave one or the other party aggrieved. Bailey tapped it to the leg side and ran off, but an excellent effort from Ahmed Shehzad at mid-wicket not only saw him field it well but also throw down the stumps direct. The third ump reckons the batsman is short! Bailey has been given!