HARARE: Australia fast bowler Billy Stanlake rediscovered his aggressive streak to demolish Pakistan’s top order and set up a nine-wicket win for his side in the second match of the T20 tri-series in Zimbabwe.
“The boys have been talking to me in the last few days about being a little more aggressive, so that’s why I came out and tried to do that,” said Stanlake.
The tactic brought almost immediate success, and he went on to record figures of four for 8 in his opening burst, the most economical spell by an Australian in T20I cricket, and second only to James Faulkner’s 5 for 27 the last time these two teams met.
His efforts were a complete turnaround from Australia’s last T20, against England, when Stanlake was carted for 47 in just three overs.
Stanlake’s wickets, backed up by three quick strikes from Andrew Tye at the death and one each for Jhye Richardson and Marcus Stoinis, kept Pakistan to 116 all out, a score which Australia chased down with ease, captain Aaron Finch registering an unbeaten 68 as they cantered home with more than nine overs to spare.
Shoaib Malik, who became the first male cricketer to play 100 T20Is in this game, briefly rallied alongside Asif Ali before a horrible mix-up led to his run out for 13. It was left to Pakistan’s lower order to guide the team beyond 100.
Hasan Ali hurried D’Arcy Short’s pull to provide Pakistan with an early wicket, but Finch ensured there were no further slip-ups for the Australians.
He countered Pakistan’s spin threat with faultless attacking strokes, twice launching Mohammad Nawaz over long on and leathering leg-spinner Shadab Khan for three more sixes as the game ended in a flurry of runs.
Finch hit six sixes in all, and the game ended with a dropped catch at long on that went for four, summing up Pakistan’s day.
Score Board
Australia won toss
Pakistan
Mohammad Hafeez c Finch b Stanlake 0
Fakhar Zaman c Carey b Stanlake 6
Hussain Talat c Finch b Stanlake 10
*†Sarfraz Ahmed c Finch b Stanlake 4
Shoaib Malik run out 13
Asif Ali b Stoinis 22
Shadab Khan c Head b Tye 29
Faheem Ashraf c Tye b Richardson 21
Mohammad Nawaz c Agar b Tye 6
Hasan Ali c Agar b Tye 0
Usman Khan not out 0
Extras (lb1, w4) 5
Total (all out, 19.5 overs) 116
Fall: 1-0, 2-12, 3-19, 4-24, 5-47, 6-61, 7-91, 8-114, 9-116, 10-116
Bowling: Stanlake 4-0-8-4 (1w); Richardson 4-0-22-1 (1w); Stoinis 3-0-17-1 (1w); Tye 3.5-0-38-3 (1w); Agar 4-0-27-0; Maxwell 1-0-3-0
Australia
D Short c Hussain b Hasan 15
*A Finch not out 68
T Head not out 20
Extras (lb5, w9) 14
Total (1 wicket, 10.5 overs) 117
Did not bat: G Maxwell, N Maddinson, M Stoinis, †A Carey, A Agar, A Tye, J Richardson, B Stanlake
Fall: 1-35
Bowling: Usman 3-0-31-0; Nawaz 2-0-22-0; Hasan 2-0-18-1; Shadab 3.5-0-41-0
Result: Australia won by 9 wickets
Man of the Match: Billy Stanlake (Australia)
Umpires: Jeremiah Matibiri (Zimbabwe), Russell Tiffin (Zimbabwe). TV umpire: Iknow Chabi (Zimbabwe). Match referee: Jeff Crowe (New Zealand)
