When openers Aaron Finch and D’Arcy Short cracked 96 off just 9.5 overs, the Australians were looking at least 200-plus batting first in the T20 final against Pakistan in Harare overnight.
That they petered out with 8-183 thanks to yet another batting collapse with Glenn Maxwell gone for five, Marcus Stoinis for 12, Travis Head for 19, Alex Carey for two, Ashton Agar for seven, and AJ Tye for a first ball duck – after Finch has scored 47 and Short 76, in his best dig of the tournament.
Even the predictable collapse shouldn’t have worried them – 183 was a very defendable total if the Australian attack concentrated on line and length.
And when Pakistan was 2-3 in their first over with Finch’s inspirational call on Maxwell’s offies to open the bowling, claiming a stumping from a wide and grabbing another caught at point, the Australians were sitting pretty.
But nobody gave a thought to the combination of audacious Pakistan batting, and trash Australian bowling.
Not only did Pakistan cruise to victory to set a new run-chase record, they chalked up their ninth successive series win to cement their rightful place as the world’s top T20 nation.
The stunning loss left the Australians red-faced in the Harare sun.
At the presentation, captain Finch congratulated Pakistan on their fightback with the ball, and their incredible run chase.
But there’s a mighty good chance he read the riot act to his troops in the shed for losing the unloseable final.
Maxwell, Stoinis, Head, and Carey were all caught as though the fieldsmen were magnets to the ball, while Agar and Tye, who can both bat, comprehensively lost their castles.
Finch could have genuinely thought 220-230 would be the Australian total after such a cracking start.
Suddenly that didn’t matter when Maxwell surpassed himself by grabbing 2-3 in his first over opening up, but he then went for 21 in his second – and Pakistan was on the way.
In the wash-up, only paceman Billy Stanlake was true to himself, the rest of his colleagues were integral members of the nightmare, with the possible exception of Jhye Richardson.
He bowled three overs for just 12 at a critical time, but went for 17 in his final over.
Agar went for 16 in his only over, so did Jack Wildermuth who had the exclusive embarrassment of it being a ten-ball over with four wides.
It was the worst over in my memory since leggie Johnny Watkins at the SCG, also against Pakistan, in the 1973 Test.
The first two deliveries headed for gully, with the third landing on the adjoining pitch, prompting keeper Rod Marsh to call out – “You’re getting closer Wocka”.
Wildermuth was all over the shop, and it’s difficult to understand how he was ever selected.
Yet if you look at the Harare series stats, three Australians were the leading wicket-takers.
Tye topped the list with 12 wickets at just 12.16 with an economy rate of 7.36, Stanlake was second with seven at 17.57 with an ER rate of 6.47. and Jhye Richardson was third with seven at 21.28 with an ER of 7.45.
But only Stanlake fired last night.
Finch topped the series run-getters with 306 at 76.50, but it was Fakhar Zaman who butchered the Australian attack last night with a lightning 91 off just 46 with 12 fours and three maximums.
That took him to second among the series run-getters with 278 runs at 55.60 to claim both the man-of-the-match and man-of-the-series, awards.
So congratulations to Pakistan on a superb run-chase, but there will be a few Australians wondering if they have played their last T20.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
What is conjecture? Maxwell did not accept Sarfraz's outstretched hand is a FACT! Poor sportsmanship should be called out for what it is.
James Butcher
Roar Rookie
I think you're dead wrong David. Sensible line and length???
William
Guest
Aus has a poor record away from home when they win the toss and bat. We have never defended 200 or less under this scenario. 180 odd was 20-30 runs short
Ross
Guest
If Paine was captain last night most would butcher him but not when there is a different skipper
Ross
Guest
Well said David lord, so tired of the excuses being made by some here
AREH
Roar Guru
I agree that's probably the best method of constructing the XI. At the minute the side is a bit too much of a bits and pieces outfit cobbled together I fear.
Ben
Roar Rookie
Especially when they were 2 down in the first over. Maxwell shouldn’t have been bowled a second over in the power play.
JamesH
Roar Guru
What's not on, Ross? That's my point - this is just conjecture.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Marsh hasn't really earned a spot in the T20 side yet.
JamesH
Roar Guru
England and NZ are ranked 12 in the world?
Ahmad Ali
Guest
No,the captaincy from Australia were good because the way he made fielding adjustments were outstanding, but the batting from fakhar confused him.you people should not to blame your captain but yes the bowlers really not show his class,and little bit in the bowling change.
David Lord
Expert
Wrong JimmyB, his facts are not sane. With 183 in the bank, all it required was sensible line and length, and 183 was very defendable. It was only gettable when the Australians bowled trash, and they bowled plenty of it, with the exception of Billy Stanlake. Bowl half-track trash, get trashed, it's as simple as that.
JimmyB
Guest
Ever think you’re the only sane one here Spruce? Speaking with logic and facts seems to really get some people’s backs up.
Ross
Guest
I like maxwell but that’s not on
Ross
Guest
Let’s stop making excuses, we lost a game we should have won
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
With this loss of Australia and win of India over England last night, Australia lost their 2nd.Rank to India. Now Australia has 122 to India's 124 points. Pakistan is in the top with 132 points.
Nick
Roar Guru
No, "we" didn't. It'd t20 - it's an absurdly unpredictable sport and it's very design means a game can change in the space of an over. "we" weren't the favourites going into the competition. "we" were under manned. Pakistan are the number one team who towelled Australia a few days before the final. "we" never had the game in the bag. It's a game "we" weren't expected to win.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Let's not jump to conclusions. Maybe it wasn't deliberate, or maybe something else prompted it. You can't assume he was just sulking because he got hit for 21 runs in an over. In fact, I would say that's a very unlikely explanation.
Reece
Guest
That's the problem with this Aussie team. We can get teams 2 or 3 sometimes even 4 down and we can't finish them off. That's what separates us from the top International teams. We have no killer instinct.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Head a better bowler than Agar? Surely you jest?