Aussie breaks record in T20 redemption
A five-star performance from Spencer Johnson helped Australia wrap up their T20 series against Pakistan with a thrilling 13-run win at the SCG, with the left-arm quick’s career-best figures saving the hosts after their batters blew a golden opportunity to post a monster first innings total.
Johnson’s 5-26 are the best figures ever by an Australian fast bowler in T20 internationals, with his blistering spell overshadowing Usman Khan’s career-best 52 which threatened to set up a series decider in Hobart on Monday.
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It was a timely performance from Johnson after the Aussies crumbled with the bat, with his first ball of the innings going for five wides before he found himself on a hat-trick in the 10th over to leave the tourists reeling at 4-44.
But a 58-run stand for the fifth wicket had Pakistan slightly in front, only for Johnson to return and pick up two more wickets, with Adam Zampa chiming in with two of his own the following over in his 200th white ball game for Australia.
That wasn’t the end of the drama as Irfan Khan (37 off 28) bludgeoned some late boundaries to leave Pakistan needing 16 off the final over, but he ran out of partners as the hosts did enough to just hold on.
WHITE BALL WOBBLES
Australia came out of the blocks like a heavyweight champion looking to defend his belt, but their hot start faded faster than Mike Tyson did against Jake Paul as they were restricted to 9/147 from their 20 overs.
It looked at one stage like they would double that total after Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk took 21 off the first over and brought up the 50-run opening partnership after just 19 balls.
But the wheels came off quickly and the runs evaporated as it took another 60 deliveries to score their next 50 as Pakistan’s bowlers ripped through the middle order who provided the fielders in the deep with plenty of catching practice.
Four batters reached 20 but no one passed 32 as they tried to land haymakers like they were playing another seven-over match rather than peppering Pakistan with enough jabs to frustrate their bowlers.
WRECK IT RAUF
There are plenty of Aussie batters who are cheering that Haris Rauf only has one more game left before he has to head home.
The Pakistani quick has tormented the hosts for the past couple of weeks and was at his destructive best at the SCG as he completely derailed Australia’s innings with stunning figures of 4-22.
The veteran quick has now taken 15 wickets in his five games this month, with Rauf striking twice in his first over to remove Fraser-McGurk and Josh Inglis.
He should have had Marcus Stoinis trudging back after he edged a regulation catch to first slip, and he then had Tim David dropped later in the innings, only to get his revenge later in the over.
Rauf’s aggression was well backed up by Abbas Afridi (3-17) and spinner Sufiyan Muqeem (2-21) who picked up the huge wicket of Glenn Maxwell.
