http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 – 2nd T20 – Match Preview – Australians know stakes are high
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 led Pakistan contingent will be hoping to emulate their scintillating performance from Wednesday as they gear up to play Australia in the second T20 International of the three-match series, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, UAE, today, September 7, 2012.
Friday’s encounter is expected to be the toughest match of the series, as well as the itinerary as stakes are high for the mighty Aussies, who will not only lose the series but will also fall behind minnows http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 T20 team rankings, if they lose the match.
Pakistan will be once again heavily relying on their spinners. Pacer Sohail Tanvir was the pick of Pakistan bowlers, with three scalps for just 13 runs and Pakistan will be hoping the seamers to continue complementing the spin trio.
Australia on the other hand will look up to their top order, especially David Warner, to fire. Warner’s form throughout the series has been worrying for the Aussies, as he scored at less than a run a ball in the three ODIs and the first T20 against Pakistan, with a top score of 24.
The Dubai cricket stadium pitch is traditionally spin friendly, which was also evident in Wednesday’s game, with Pakistan’s spin trio, Saeed Ajmal, Mohammad Hafeez and debutant http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Raza-Hasan-c84407 sharing six wickets between them. Australian vice-captain Shane Watson is also hoping the pitch to turn more in the next couple of games.
Australia responded to Wednesday’s heavy defeat by making a handful of changes to their squad from the previous game. Considering the spin friendly conditions, the Australians have called up 41-year-old http://www.senore.com/Cricket/XJ-Doherty-c2804 have all been dropped.
On the other side of the coin, Pakistan are unlikely to disturb their winning combination, barring injuries. Flamboyant all-rounder http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482, who missed the series opener due to a thumb injury, is likely to miss again due to the same reason.
George Bailey’s men were bundled out for just 89, their second lowest T20 total of all time, in the series opener, which they lost by seven wickets. This was also Australia’s heaviest defeat in terms of balls to spare, as Kamran Akmal-led Pakistan batting line-up chased the paltry total down in 14.5 overs.
The Aussie skipper admitted that he was disappointed by his side’s dismal performance on Wednesday night, and hoped his players to bounce back strongly on Friday to avoid the series defeat.
''I'm very disappointed and there's plenty to go away and work on,'' said the Tasmanian batsman, who was appointed as Australia’s T20 skipper in February this year.
''You don't ever want to be setting those sorts of records. But it certainly hasn't altered my thoughts that we can still be a very good team. I still think we can win it. Definitely. Absolutely,” he added further.
Squads:
Pakistan (possible) 1 Mohammad Hafeez (capt), 2 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859
Australia 1 http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Iftikhar-Ali-Khan-Pataudi-Nawab-of-c64075 Cummins, 11 Mitchell Starc.
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