No result in the 1st T20I between Australia and Pakistan due to persistent rain

[Green Patriot]

Uff kya bachat hogai.

 

[Titan24]

If so called experience was required in the squad then I think even Sohail Tanvir would have done better than what Irfan did with his comeback.

Shaheen and Hassan are gonna be fit by the time our next series is and Musa and Naseem would also have got confidence so we will have more optikns

 

[Green Patriot]

Mickey all praise for Babar.

 

[TeamPak95]

*Fingers crossed for Hasnain and Khushdil*

 

[Boiz Played Well]

If so called experience was required in the squad then I think even Sohail Tanvir would have done better than what Irfan did with his comeback.

Shaheen and Hassan are gonna be fit by the time our next series is and Musa and Naseem would also have got confidence so we will have more optikns

Don't give Misbah anymore ideas with suggestions like Tanvir. We're already very slowly getting through the list of seniors we won't play in WT20 but will try out anyway.

 

[Omer Baloch]

Watching Pakistan cricket is such a roller coaster ride of emotions. And seeing Mickey's views on their performance is the icing on cake.

 

[MenInG]

The result

Pakistan 5-107 (Babar 59no, Richardson 2-16) and Australia 0-41 (Finch 37no) played out a No Result (match abandoned due to rain).

The match in a tweet

Rain, rain go away! An exciting contest scuppered by wet weather after captains Babar and Finch showed their class. On to Canberra!

Rain pain

The Sydney weather forecast was nothing short of diabolical with thunderstorms predicted to cause havoc in the first Gillette T20I. After Australia captain Aaron Finch won the toss and elected to bowl, a quick downpour forced the players, officials and broadcasters off the field but play started on time. The next interruption occurred in the 14th over, forcing play to be delayed for more than an hour before the teams returned to compete a revised 15-overs-per-side match. The rain returned 3.1 overs into Australia's run chase, just 11 balls shy of the five overs that were needed to constitute a match. Like that annoying last guest at a dinner party who has nowhere to go, the wet weather then proceeded to hang around too long and the game was abandoned at 5:50pm local time.

Finch flexes his muscles

Chasing a revised target of 119, but more importantly the DLS par score of 34 at the end of five overs, Finch activated berserk mode immediately. He hit his third ball off Mohammad Irfan for four then took down the gentle giant for 26 in his next over. The right-hander crunched two over square leg and slapped three balls through the infield for four. Finch raced to 37 off 16 balls and rocketed the total to 0-41 in 3.1 overs before the rain hit and halted the charge.


Babar lives up to his top billing

Pakistan captain Babar Azam used an interpreter at Saturday's press conference but on Sunday he simply let his bat do the talking. Opening the innings, Babar scored 59no from 38 balls as the backbone of Pakistan's innings. He hit five fours and two sixes, with his first maximum just clearing the rope and the outstretched hand of Steve Smith, who almost pulled off a remarkable piece of fielding which ended in him thudding into the SCG turf. The world No.1 T20 batter hit Mitch Starc for a glorious pull shot for six in the final over to stamp his class and lift his side to a competitive total.


Pick of the quicks

Right-armer Kane Richardson's good form continued with 2-16 from three overs, while Mitch Starc collected 2-22. It was a tougher afternoon for leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who appeared to be targeted by the Pakistan batters. Zampa bowled the fourth over of the innings, which went for 12, before he finished with 0-30 from three overs.

You don't see that too often

In the eighth over of Pakistan's innings, keeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan copped a rising ball from Pat Cummins on the glove that then trickled down to third man. Rizwan sprinted off and made it back for two only for helmet-clad umpire Gerard Abood to signal one short. Replays showed Rizwan's bat landed on the popping crease but not over it, meaning Rizwan and Pakistan were docked a run.

The stat

At 37, Irfan became the oldest fast bowler to represent Pakistan in any format since the great Imran Khan in the 1992 World Cup. The left-armer still looked sharp but was taken to by Finch.

What's next?

The two teams head south for the second T20I in Canberra on Tuesday.

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Ben McDermott, Ashton Turner, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa.

Pakistan XI: Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Rizwan, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan

Gillette T20 INTLs v Pakistan

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir.

November 3: First T20I, SCG, 2.30pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 5: Second T20I, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 8: Third T20I, Perth Stadium, 4.30pm (Fox & Kayo)

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/mat...ighlights-david-warner-aaron-finch/2019-11-03

 

[Theo_14]

Irfan’s selection would make you think that Pakistan are hosting a charity match versus Australia.

Horrible performance from him.

 

[Danyaalr01]

Where all the guys that support everything Misbah does, and cry when you say something against him????

 

[Mueez]

Pathetic performance.

Glad I didn’t wake up for this.

 

[Salma_T]

Went to watch the match......was a great atmosphere and the only winner was the rain!!!!

Pakistan should have done better but I guess the rain delay helped Australia. Let's see what happens in Canberra

 

[Danyaalr01]

Went to watch the match......was a great atmosphere and the only winner was the rain!!!!

Pakistan should have done better but I guess the rain delay helped Australia. Let's see what happens in Canberra

Was it quite smoggy at the stadium. Apparently the whole City centre in Sydney is covered in smog due to bushfires. It didn't look that clear on camera either at the ground.

 

[MenInG]

Mohammad Rizwan quotes:

"It was a difficult for us in the way they started off (Australia), but due to rain, even our batting (strategy) was disturbed; We recovered well and if 20 overs had been played, we could have hit 170+ which on this pitch would have been very difficult to chase"

"Babar is an excellent player and all of us play around him - this is why he is World's number 1 T20I player; He has a good understanding of match situation and lot of our players are learning from him too; he can hit boundaries or take singles; And you can see we are number in T20Is as we have the World's number one batsman Babar Azam"

"We were going well after our recovery, and then it rained and broke our momentum, then BA and Asif got out and the match stopped, so our plan was being effected by rain; if you plan for later overs and the rain comes then you are not able to make that big score"

"Australia has some good bowlers, but in the same way as Australians have difficulty when they come to our home, even we have to work hard to get used to the pitches here"

"I have no idea about the Canberra pitch"

 

[KingKhanXi]

So tour started on a positive note for Pakistan. They didn't lose first match. Only 2 matches can be lost now. No whitewash for a no 1 team. Congratulations

 

[Salma_T]

Was it quite smoggy at the stadium. Apparently the whole City centre in Sydney is covered in smog due to bushfires. It didn't look that clear on camera either at the ground.

It was when we got there but cleared up after the first rain before the match. Then after the rain it was just really humid

 

[szundercover]

So tour started on a positive note for Pakistan. They didn't lose first match. Only 2 matches can be lost now. No whitewash for a no 1 team. Congratulations

You are underestimating this team.

 

[The cricket enthusiast]

Mohammad Rizwan quotes:

"It was a difficult for us in the way they started off (Australia), but due to rain, even our batting (strategy) was disturbed; We recovered well and if 20 overs had been played, we could have hit 170+ which on this pitch would have been very difficult to chase"

"Babar is an excellent player and all of us play around him - this is why he is World's number 1 T20I player; He has a good understanding of match situation and lot of our players are learning from him too; he can hit boundaries or take singles; And you can see we are number in T20Is as we have the World's number one batsman Babar Azam"

"We were going well after our recovery, and then it rained and broke our momentum, then BA and Asif got out and the match stopped, so our plan was being effected by rain; if you plan for later overs and the rain comes then you are not able to make that big score"

"Australia has some good bowlers, but in the same way as Australians have difficulty when they come to our home, even we have to work hard to get used to the pitches here"

"I have no idea about the Canberra pitch"

he plays around babar?
by scoring run a ball?

 

[MenInG]

Rain ensured Australia’s T20 series opener against Pakistan fizzled to a frustrating draw, but there was plenty to suggest a hotly contested series awaits in the final two games.
Kane Richardson shined with the ball for the hosts, while Pakistan skipper Babar Azam was brilliant with the bat for the tourists.

Here’s what we learned from an eventful series opener at the SCG.

Aaron Finch mixed things up against Pakistan by throwing leg-spinner Adam Zampa the ball in the powerplay for the first time this season.

It was, however, a move which didn’t pay off as Zampa partially let Pakistan off the hook after the tourists made a poor start.

Powerplay wickets were once again on the agenda for Finch’s men and his quicks delivered them early — Mitchell Starc and Kane Richardson removed Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail to have the tourists 2-11 after two overs.

The score was then 2-18 after the third over, which was when Zampa — who didn’t bowl in the powerplay once in the three-match series against Sri Lanka — was thrown the ball. Mohammad Rizwan took him to task, hammering him twice down the ground for boundaries to make 12 runs off the over.

And the damage appeared to have a lasting effect. Rizwan continued to build with captain Babar Azam from there until Ashton Agar brought an end to the 60-run partnership in the 11th over.

That didn’t spell the end of trouble though, as Zampa continued to leak runs and finish the day with 0-30 from his three overs.

Kane Richardson continues to firm his position in Australia’s XI as the World Cup draws closer one game at a time.

The 28-year-old hasn’t been short on competition for his spot with Billy Stanlake, Sean Abbott and the now-injured AJ Tye some of the names he’s held off. Furthermore, the automatic selections of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc and the use of two spinners have left Richardson with just the one spot to gun for.

But he’s rising to that challenge having bowled his best spell of the season so far on Sunday against Pakistan.

The right-armer shared the new rock with Starc and delivered a wicket in the powerplay, removing a driving Haris Sohail with a delivery that did him for bounce.

Richardson ended his three overs with 1-16, which followed on from his 2-63 (economy 5.72) in the three matches against Sri Lanka.

Australia’s selections in the four T20Is played this season suggest the emphasis before the World Cup is on continuity and not experimentation, therefore, Richardson can be confident he’s in the box seat moving forward.

The numbers would suggest that Pakistan is a one man team when it comes to batting.

Just to be clear, they’re not. Consistency is undoubtedly an issue, but this is a side that has a number of talented batsman capable of taking up the fight. Just look at Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail who are, on their day, dangerous batsmen.

Nonetheless, there is one man in such control of his craft that his performances stand head and shoulders above his teammates.

That man is, of course, Babar Azam who showed everyone on Sunday just why he is ranked as the world’s best T20I batsman.

The 25-year-old has dominated the format in the past 12 months, in which he has now scored 397 runs at 49.62 with a strike rate of 138.81. Most recently, he starred for Pakistan by making 59 runs off 38 balls at the SCG. Meanwhile, his teammates made a combined 48 runs from 52 balls at a strike rate of 92.30.

Until Sunday, Azam hadn’t played a T20 in Australia, leaving questions marks over whether he’d cope with the extra pace and bounce and continue his stellar run. With each one of his five fours and two sixes, that speculation became more and more laughable.

He’s still going to need some help with the bat if Pakistan has ambitions of winning the three-match series, though.

Finch blasts 25 in an over!Finch blasts 25 in an over!1:29
FINCH GOES TO TOWN

Australian skipper Aaron Finch must have known the rain would return after he took Pakistan apart in the third over of his side’s run chase.

Australia were set a revised total of 119 for victory from 15 overs in the rain shortened match.

However there must be five overs bowled in order to constitute a match at which point the team with the superior run rate wins the match.

Finch smashed Mohammad Irfan for 26 runs in his second over, including three fours and two towering sixes.

The massive over saw Finch race to 37* with David Warner on 2* when rain intervened with Australia on 0-41 after 3.1 overs.

Unfortunately the rain persisted and Australia ran out of time to complete the final 11 balls required to force a result in the series opener.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...d/news-story/19d6b23a035e609ef46cfdc8d008e157

 

[TalhaSyed]

Aussies get away with one - they were saved by the rain....

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

Mohammad Rizwan quotes:

"It was a difficult for us in the way they started off (Australia), but due to rain, even our batting (strategy) was disturbed; We recovered well and if 20 overs had been played, we could have hit 170+ which on this pitch would have been very difficult to chase"

.....

"We were going well after our recovery, and then it rained and broke our momentum, then BA and Asif got out and the match stopped, so our plan was being effected by rain; if you plan for later overs and the rain comes then you are not able to make that big score"

...

I didn't know Rizwan was an academic and historian- he certainly seems aces at historical reinterpretation...

 

[MenInG]

just so we are back on track here - no need to get personal with posters.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan team members at a charity event

 

[Nasty Naz]

Looks like Irfan played like typical Irfan and unsurprising to see a 37 year old mediocre bowler get destroyed at the International level. Pakistan might be the only team that plays non-elite players at that age. Other teams don't even consider players at that age due to obvious reasons that they're well past their peak.

And another failure by Asif once again. Comes in, hits a six and gets out as he always does. Still hasn't produced a single match winning performance and his high score remains at 41 vs Zimbabwe. Which is quite laughable.

I was going to say Shaheen should replace Irfan but oh wait, they never picked him. The level of incompetence in Pakistan is unfathomable.

 

[sweep_shot]

Australia's bowlers are enjoying their best Twenty20 run in almost a decade with their full-strength attack strangling opposition sides out of matches.

With Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins at the helm, Australia's bowlers have conceded less than 7.5 runs an over in the first four games of the summer.

Their performances against Sri Lanka and Pakistan mark the first time an Australian attack has done that in four straight games since way back in 2009-10.

It's the first time Australia have run out anything close to their best attack in the format since way back in 2016.

"It's nice to have Mitchell Starc running in with the new ball and then at the death with the spinners through the middle," vice-captain Alex Carey said.

"Kane Richardson has been fantastic with the new ball and at the death again.

"And Pat Cummins, wherever you need him. It's a really well-balanced squad at the moment.

"It's nice to have a very role-specific side together. Players are feeling really confident in their roles and executing their roles."

Richardson has especially come of age with his tight spells, going at less than a run a ball in three of the four matches.

He and Starc both claimed two wickets in Sunday's win over Pakistan, and arrive in Canberra full of confidence for the second game of the series against the tourists on Tuesday.

Meanwhile the Aussies also appear to have found their formula for next year's World Cup on home soil, after going with two spinners for the T20s.

Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar have played in each match so far this summer, with selectors well aware spin has proven more effective than pace in KFC Big Bash matches in recent years.

That preference for spin on the bigger Australian grounds is backed by the fact spinners conceded almost a run-an-over less than quicks in the country in T20 internationals.

"I think it's important to have them as options especially when you have a left-arm and a leg-spinner," captain Aaron Finch said.

"The two spinners, all the stats suggest that runs per over off spinners are lower in this country than quicks.

"I think that's based off ground size, how true the wickets are too.

"It's not a non-negotiable but structuring up for these two series we've felt that it was our best five bowlers going forward."

Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (c), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Shadab Khan, Usman Qadir.

November 3: First T20I, SCG, 2.30pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 5: Second T20I, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm (Fox & Kayo)

November 8: Third T20I, Perth Stadium, 4.30pm (Fox & Kayo)

Source: https://www.cricket.com.au/news/in-...series-starc-richardson-zampa-agar/2019-11-04.