Pakistan vs Australia, 1st Twenty20: First Innings Report
Pakistan started the tour of England with a mixed first innings performance in the 1st of two Twenty20 matches against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 set Australia a target of 168 to win.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahid-Afridi-c2482 won the toss and elected to bat first on the Birmingham pitch that was not expected to offer the bowlers too much assistance.
The start was not ideal though, and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Shahzaib-Hasan-c2488 was dismissed on the very first ball that he faced. He was caught by David Hussey on the bowling of Dirk Nannes. Kamran Akmal walked in next to join Salman Butt, and the two started to build the innings. The pair, who opened the innings against Australia in the World Cup, showed the same grit and determination and dominated the Aussie attack.
However, with the score at 45, a collapse broke the back of Pakistan's batting line-up. Confusion between Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal led to Kamran’s run out after scoring 23 from 19 balls with 2 fours and a six. Shoaib Malik walked in next, but two balls later, Salman Butt threw away his wicket and was caught deep by Warner on the bowling of David Hussey; Butt scored 13 runs from 21 balls, with one four.
Captain Shahid Afridi did not last long and missed a full toss from Smith to be dismissed on the first ball for naught. From 45 for 1, Pakistan were now at 47 for 4.
Umar Akmal and Shoaib Malik then once again started the rebuilding process; the pair did not hold back from playing shots and put on 52 for the 5th wicket.
Shoaib Malik was controversially given out by the 3rd umpire at the end of the 12th over, caught behind on the bowling of Nannes. Malik scored 21 from 18 balls with 3 fours. Pakistan were now 98 for 5.
Abdul Razzaq then joined Umar Akmal. Umar was once again in the same form that he showed in the semifinal against Australia, and scored the fastest half-century for Pakistan in T20s (from 21 balls).
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Razzaq-c84421 then was cleaned up by Shaun Tait from a searing yorker; everything now rested on Umar Akmal, while Muhammad Aamer kept getting ones and twos at the other end.
Umar Akmal, while going for a big shot, missed a slower one from Tait and was bowled after scoring 64 from 31 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes.
Umar Gul later put on 16 runs from the last couple of overs to get Pakistan up to 167 from the allotted 20 overs.
Although the target does not look too big, it should be challenging enough, considering Pakistan’s well rounded bowling line-up.
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