The T20 series between Australia and Pakistan continues on Saturday when the two nations head to Sydney for the middle match of the three and the one which offers up the first chance for the home side to land the spoils.
Australia won a seven over slogathon to go 1-0 up in the series but Pakistan will know they were in this position in the ODIs and came back strong to not only force a decider but also to win that closing game. That will be their aim here.
Australia
It is hard to take too much from the opening game of the series given that the weather impacted it so much but the one thing which we can take which will give Australia confidence is that their top order is quite clearly more explosive than that of their opposition. That should serve them much more in this format of the game than it did in the ODIs so there is no reason to suggest that we are going to see a repeat of what happened in the 50 over series.
One possible concern for Australia is that the conditions in Brisbane would have suited them nicely whereas those in Sydney are likely to keep Pakistan in the game so the home side will need a good performance if they are going to get the series won before we get to Hobart, where again Pakistan wouldn’t be too disadvantaged by the conditions so we are likely to need to see a complete showing from Australia if they are going to win the series.
Pakistan
I think it is fair to say that Pakistan are much better suited to the 50 over game than the 20 over one. We saw that at the T20 World Cup earlier in the year where Pakistan offered very little. They are a side who have their strength in the bowling department but in this format these days you have to have players at the top of the order who can smack the ball out of the park and that generally isn’t the way that this era of Pakistan players do things.
When there is a bit in the pitch they are in business but in international cricket we don’t get many of those pitches, especially in this format of the game so Pakistan have to bat above themselves to have their best chance of winning. If they do that then they have the bowlers who can keep them in the game and get the job done so really the onus is on their batting to deliver. In a full 20 over game here in Sydney where the pace and bounce isn’t extreme that is possible.
Special Offer
Open a new Sporting Index account and bet £10 on the series (min odds 1/2) to get £20 in free bets (2x£10 free bets) to use on any sports market! Click the image below to take advantage of this great offer! 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Responsibly.
Team News
Australia are continuing to field a white ball squad for this match as their main players prepare for a Test series with India later in the month. They have no real reason to change their XI from the opening match unless there is a late injury.
You would imagine in Sydney that Pakistan would want a first-choice spinner to play whereas with the rain in Brisbane they went with an all-seam bowling attack. Arafat Minhas or Sufiyan Muqeem would be the options to come in.
Betting
I thought that Pakistan were value in the opening game but as the overs reduced the more that was never in play however I’m not convinced that the tourists are done with this series yet. Having seen the opening game I’m not sure I would want to commit to them winning the match but I do think they can be much more competitive than the handicap would suggest on a pitch which isn’t going to be completely against their batters and not out of favour for their bowlers.
The handicap line for this match is 5.5 wickets or 22.5 which means that if Pakistan bat first we would need them to pick up five wickets in the run chase and were they to chase a score down we need them to remain within 22 runs of it. We know that the main players for Pakistan are in good touch from the ODIs and we don’t really know much about Australia because in that opening T20 there was no scoreboard pressure and everyone could swing for the hills with no possibility of them being bowled out. In the ODIs the batters were found out by pretty much this same Pakistan bowling unit so I think the tourists can stay within that handicap in a game they have to win to force a decider.
Tips
Back Pakistan (+5.5wickets/22.5runs) to beat Australia for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with Bet365
