Can Australia shrug off their horrendous run in England and register their first international win in a while when they take on Pakistan in the second game of the tri-series in Zimbabwe?
The game will be played on Monday, July 2 from 6pm AEST and you can follow it live with The Roar below.
A 6-0 defeat tour defeat at the hands of England included a T20I loss that came at the fag end of the tour but the tourists would like to take some positives away from that encounter going into this tri-series in Zimbabwe.
Australia’s batting would be one, having gotten themselves close to the England score of 221 thanks to a 41-ball 84 captain Aaron Finch, whose presence at the top of the order looks to have rejuvenated the side no ends.
The earlier call to have him man the ODI middle-order was an understandable but ineffective call and that promotion back as an opener might allow Australia a chance to take on the Powerplay overs in a better manner.
It also brings its own sets of problems with it though. Travis Head and D’Arcy Short are not batsmen Australia can rely – for now – against spin once the ball loses its early shine and the fielders have been sent back and that could be an issue for the side against a team that has spin quality.
Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan are two spinners as different from each other as chalk and cheese but their efficacy has seen Pakistan go through a sterling run since the end of the previous World T20. They are the number one side in the world and not without reason – they have won 20 of their 23 games since that tournament and have catapulted to the number one position in the world.
While a weak Zimbabwe opposition was never going to test them out in the opening game, what was impressive to watch was their clinical finishing on the opening day. They built on a Fakhar Zaman half-century through Shoaib Malik and Asif Ali, who were involved in an unbeaten 62-run stand off just 32 deliveries at the end.
And then, as mentioned earlier, the spinning pair of Nawaz and Shadab did their bit to catch Zimbabwe well short of the target.
With Australia’s recent weaknesses against spin well-chronicled, it will be interesting to watch how their batsmen extricate themselves from those problems and if they can get past arguably one of the most consistent T20 sides in recent times.
Prediction
The team batting second to have an advantage on a ground where the boundaries look to have been brought inside a great deal.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this T20I in Harare from 6pm (AEST) and don’t forget to drop a comment in the section below.
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Doesn't hide the fact he looked clueless against moin and rashid along with another failed IPL campaign, will you ever not support finch ronan lol
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Stanlake won the game in the first 4 overs for us so deserving mom, its easy to chase 100 but not to get 4 in the first 4 overs
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Versus spin Finch has made 180 runs for five dismissals (average of 36) across Australia's seven limited overs internationals these past three weeks. That's certainly a lot better than most of his struggling Aussie teammates.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Yea I suppose but either way Khawaja has to be in the team even in a full strength team. Short remains a question mark for me he had a horrible IPL and was very average in the ODI's.
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Swepson will come through, need to show patience
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Yeah finch showing why he is a good T20 player and yes how many chances will we give short, get khawaja in. And finally we win something hopefully this will build confidence into the rest of the games and all forms of the game
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Finch struggled badly against spin the IPL and the one day series in England, one good game of hitting doesn't fix that up. Pakistan's batting is very weak if Australia plays confidently they will win the series easily.Now that's what Australia have done today.Terrific performance from Stanlake.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Bit rough. He copped some stick in the recent ODIs but was excellent through the BBL, Aus ODIs, tri series and IPL. Swepson hasn’t earned selection in this squad, let alone the team.
Shrihari Deshpande
Guest
Keep it up Australia. Good ? t after loosing in England.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Tough to drop Short though. Player of the BBL and had a strong tri series. Thank god we’re back on the winners list. How bizarre that T20 now seems to be our strength...
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Due to bounce in Harare pitch (just like at home), Australians bowled and batted very well and send Pakistan packing. I think, in this condition Australians should win all their 5 matches of this Series (including Final).
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
I wonder if finch is an outside chance for the test series against Pakistan, given his ability against spin.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Don't think Pakistan has seen such bad days in this format in a long time. They fell away quickly to Billy Stanlake, lost their key batsman in Shoaib Malik to a run-out and despite some help from Shadab Khan and Faheem Ashraf towards the end, managed just 116 from their 20 overs. Stanlake broke the Pakistani backs with his pace, bounce and movement, finishing with figures of 4/8 from four overs. In reply, Finch wasn't going to allow Pakistan anywhere near a comeback into the game. He turned on the heat from ball one and finished unbeaten on 68 from 33 balls with Short and Head playing supporting roles. Pakistan have never lost a T20I with these many (55) balls remaining. Such a pounding.
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Great performance by Aus well played Stanlake and Finch. Geez imagine this side with Warner and Lynn and a full strength bowling lineup. I would still like to see Khawaja instead of Short. Khawaja was our best batsmen in the last T20 world cup and T20 is probly his best format.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Billy will get the MOTM but Finch could do little more.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A six and a four to finish the game! Finch ends unbeaten on 68 off 38 having offered a chance off the final ball of the game but was dropped. A brutal thumping for Pakistan. Australia win by nine wickets with 55 balls to spare.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
15 from the Usman Khan over. Australia don't want to let the foot off the opposition's throat and that's probably the one takeaway from their tour of England - when on top, don't allow them to get up. 13 more needed.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
50 for Finch! Sizzling knock from the Aussie skipper. He has used up just 27 balls to get to 51 on the same pitch where the opposition scored just 116 from 20 overs. A glance to backward square-leg gets him three runs that helps him get to the half-century.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Shadab has continued to bowl and comes back with a decent third over. Five singles off it. 1/89 in nine overs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Mohammad Nawaz has returned to the attack and almost gets the better of Head. A top-edge goes close to the fielder but not quite close enough and the rest of the over is safely played away for seven runs. 33 needed from 12 overs.