The finalists of the tri-series may have been decided but both Australia and Pakistan will be gunning for brownie points and momentum when they face off in the fifth game of the tournament at Harare on Thursday.
The game will begin at 6pm (AEST) and you can follow live scores and coverage on The Roar.
Two matches played, two matches won.
And not just won, Australia have thumped their opponents in those two games, bringing back a hope that was beginning to build during the tri-series that was played around the Tasman earlier this year, in which the hosts won five games in a row against New Zealand and England to win that title.
Then, the whole ball tampering saga took away part of that white-ball momentum and the England thumping might have set the Aussies back a tad, but going into this series, there looks to be a quiet confidence building in the team.
Sure, beating a second-string Zimbabwe team by any margin might not lie at the top of their best-achievement list but the clinical nature of their victory over Pakistan in the opener pointed in a direction they would have liked.
It was the same Pakistan team that had their moments against Zimbabwe in the previous game, needing 19.1 overs to chase down their score of 162. It didn’t look like Pakistan were in trouble at any time during their chase but it wasn’t as easy as Australia had made it out to be when they won their game against Zimbabwe by 100 runs.
What will be interesting to see is that Pakistan recalled Mohammad Amir for their previous game and his bowling at the top of the innings against Aaron Finch could hold the key. Finch has held the Aussie innings together in both the games and an early loss could expose a line-up that hasn’t been at its best.
D’Arcy Short’s struggles at the top, Glenn Maxwell’s poor form and Nic Maddinson’s inexperience could all combine to pose a threat for the Aussies and someone will need to put their hand up and be counted with the bat.
Prediction
Australia to continue with their form in this series and win this one but Pakistan to run them closer than the previous game.
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.
Noah Barling
Roar Pro
enough with this Khawaja nonsense, you have a crack at Ronan for upping Finch but all I hear from you is Khawaja, Khawaja, Khawaja.
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
Today stumps were cartwheeling no of times during australian innings...shaheen afridi was awesome today
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Short was very good during the big bash and the tri series against England and New Zealand, but ever since the IPL he’s done very poorly
BrainsTrust
Roar Rookie
Seriously throw that Short out..Im.sure better players arr there waiting for the opportunities..He is taking everything for granted, time for khawaja
BrainsTrust
Roar Rookie
Pakistan has a very good crickteam right now...great bowling attack and they will be a force to reckon with in the World Cup next year. For us its time for usman khawaja
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
It really time to get khawaja in
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Agreed, how we have short play ahead of khawaja, decision makes no sense on me
Krishna Singh
Roar Rookie
Another batting failure, how long we keep khawaja out
AREH
Roar Guru
Good call re Maddinson; has to surely be at the top or not in altogether, cannot ever recall seeing him outside the top three for the Sydney Sixers.
AREH
Roar Guru
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KenoathCarnt
Guest
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KenoathCarnt
Guest
Preferred lineup with injured players Khawaja Finch Lynn Maxwell Turner Carey Agar Cummins Tye Stanlake NCN/Nair/Starc
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That is the end of that. Another one-sided fixture that has gone in favour of Pakistan this time. They will go into the final with a lot of confidence after losing to Australia in the previous match. This has been a good comeback too, having been blown away for a 100-odd score in their first meeting with Australia, they were sent in to bat and piled up 194 thanks to Fakhar Zaman's solid half-century. There was a late cameo by Asif Ali that ensured they got close to where they wanted but in the end it proved to be more than enough. Shaheen Shah Afridi grabbed a three-fer, and the rest of the bowlers kept chipping away, stifling the run-scoring and in the end Australia reached a point of no return very early in their chase. Join me tomorrow for Australia's final league game before the final.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Pakistan win by 45 runs after Fahim Ashraf concedes 10 from the final over.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Afridi, who took his first wicket today, ends with figures of 3/37 from his four overs. Went for a few but those early pegs played more than their part in pushing the Aussies back. 56 needed from the final six.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Five from the Amir over. An improbable 63 needed from 12.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Gone, bowled! Amir has Agar... ...he was timing them well but not getting the gaps and the mounting run-rate meant he had to do something different. Walked to outside the off and goes for a flick. Misses the full ball. Bowled. Amir gets his first. Seven down.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Usman Khan starts off with conceding a four to Carey but the rest of the over is well done by the bowler, as he goes for just seven more. They now need 22.67 an over from here on to win this. 6/127 in 17.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Short needs to be dropped so the he can go back to domestic level and work on his game, Maddinson is an opener and should not be batting at 5. McDermott, Turner, Khawaja, Weatherald, Silk have all done well during the big bash.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
This is going to be a pounding. Australia don't look like they are going to get close. Mohammad Amir has returned to the attack and while he ends up carving out a six off the final ball of the over, he concedes just 10 from it. Australia are 79 away from a win with just four overs remaining.