Pakistan wrap up series triumph

Pakistan have claimed the T20 series against Australia with an action-packed 11-run victory in the second game in Dubai.

Set 148 to win, Australia posted 8-136 from 20 overs to hand Pakistan an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Glenn Maxwell (52) and Nathan Coulter-Nile (27) gave Australia hope of pulling off victory but both fell within the final over.

 

Finch was earlier left fuming by a bizarre run out decision which resulted in opening partner D'Arcy Short's dismissal in the third over.

Short was at the non-striker's end when spinner Imad Wasim got a finger to a return shot from Finch that ricocheted into the stumps.

Replays appeared to confirm that Short's bat was grounded when the bails were dislodged but third umpire Shozab Raza gave the left-hander out.

Finch fell for three when he was beaten for spin by Shadab Khan and sliced to Fakhar Zaman at long on.

Shadab's brilliant one-handed diving catch at cover accounted for Chris Lynn (seven), while the legspinner also had the returning Mitch Marsh (21) caught behind.

Australia's hopes faded even further when rookie Ben McDermott (three) was run out for the second time in as many games, courtesy of an unbelievable no-look flick from Fakhar at mid on.

Maxwell had been dropped twice when he holed out to Shoaib Malik at mid off with Australia needing 16 to win from four balls.

 

Image Id: 3041C93BBCD049AF8BB5B597D378934B Image Caption: Shadab Khan holds on to an excellent catch // Getty Images

 

Babar Azam (45) and Mohammad Hafeez (40) did the damage with the bat for Pakistan, combining for a 70-run second-wicket stand as the hosts posted 6-147.

Coulter-Nile (3-18) and Billy Stanlake (2-36) were the pick of the bowlers for Australia.

Ranked No.1 in the world, Pakistan have now remarkably won 10 straight T20 series with Sarfraz enjoying a perfect run since replacing Shahid Afridi as skipper in 2016.

Australia were skittled for 89 in the series-opener in Abu Dhabi which they lost by 66 runs.

The series concludes in Dubai on Sunday night.

Pakistan XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed (c,wk), Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi.

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), D'Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake.

Qantas T20 Tour of the UAE

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Mitch Marsh (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D'Arcy Short, Peter Siddle, Billy Stanlake, Mitch Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

Pakistan squad: Sarfraz Ahmed (c), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Sahibzada Farhan, Babar Azam, Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan Shinwari, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Waqas Maqsood, Faheem Ashraf

Oct 22: Australia beat UAE by seven wickets

Oct 24: Pakistan beat Australia by 66 runs

Oct 26: Pakistan beat Australia by 11 runs

Oct 28: Third T20, Dubai

*All matches against Pakistan start at 8pm local time, 3am the following day AEDT