Australia suffered a major setback in the second T20I against Pakistan as they were bowled out for a paltry 163, failing to put up a competitive total on the board. The star of the show was Pakistani pacer Haris Rauf, who ran riot through the Australian batting lineup, finishing with impressive figures of 5 for 14.
The Australian innings got off to a shaky start as they lost wickets at regular intervals, with none of the top order batsmen able to get a substantial score. Opener Aaron Finch fell early for just 5 runs, followed by Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh, who both departed without making much impact on the scoreboard.
It was left to the middle order to try and stabilize the innings, but they found it hard to combat the fiery pace and aggression of Haris Rauf. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Ashton Turner all struggled to get going, as Rauf kept picking up wickets at crucial junctures.
The only silver lining for Australia was the fighting innings from Pat Cummins, who top-scored with a gritty 37 off 28 balls. His knock included a couple of boundaries and a six, but it was not enough to lift Australia to a competitive total.
Rauf’s burst of wickets not only derailed the Australian innings but also put Pakistan in a dominant position heading into their chase. The Pakistani bowlers, led by Rauf, maintained a disciplined line and length throughout the innings, not giving the Australian batsmen any room to free their arms.
In the end, Australia will need to come up with a special bowling performance to defend a below-par total and level the series. The pressure will be on their bowlers to pick up early wickets and put the Pakistani batsmen under pressure.
The second T20I between Australia and Pakistan promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams looking to outdo each other and take the lead in the series. Stay tuned for more updates and analysis as the match unfolds.