Australia held its nerve to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the T20 series against Pakistan, clinching a tense 13-run win at the SCG on Saturday evening courtesy of a career-best performance from Spencer Johnson.
The hosts successfully defended a modest 148-run target after Johnson ripped through Pakistan’s top-order in a blistering spell off 5-26, the best bowling figures by an Australian pace bowler in men’s T20Is.
There were some nervous faces in the Australian camp when Usman Khan cracked 52 (38), his highest score in T20Is, during the run chase to set the scene for a nailbiting finish. However, Johnson returned in the 16th over to end Khan’s counterattack, with Pakistan ultimately bowled out for 134 in 19.4 overs.
“To be back in the green and gold, it’s an opportunity that I don’t take lightly,” Johnson told reporters in the post-match press conference.
“It’s a privilege to play for Australia.”
Australia received little support from a 31,563-strong crowd dominated by Pakistan supporters, with the picturesque Sydney venue blanketed by a sea of green that celebrated every boundary during the run chase.
Earlier, Australia posted 9-147 after captain Josh Inglis won the toss and chose to bat first, with openers Matt Short (32 off 17 balls) and Jake Fraser-McGurk (20 off nine balls) getting the contest off to a rollicking start by cracking 48 runs from the first three overs, including three sixes.
The pair combined for Australia’s fastest 50-run opening partnership in men’s T20Is before speedster Haris Rauf, who finished with 4-22 from four overs, broke the stand and swung momentum back in Pakistan’s favour.
Australia’s middle order failed to capitalise on the fast start, only managing three boundaries between the third and 14th overs, while Pakistan spinner Sufiyan Muqeem tightened the screws during a probing spell of 2-21, including the crucial dismissals of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.
However, all-rounder Aaron Hardie scored 29 (23) at the death to steer Australia towards a respectable total, while Pakistan’s bowlers were left fuming after four regulation catches were put down alongside some sloppy ground fielding.
Xavier Bartlett of Australia. Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
The run chase got off to a sluggish start, with Pakistan crawling towards 4-44 in the tenth over after an early collapse. Seamer Xavier Bartlett removed superstar Babar Azam in the Powerplay, caught at deep square leg for 3, before Johnson dismissed rival captain Muhammad Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha in consecutive deliveries.
Khan flipped the script by combining with Mohammad Irfan Khan for a rapid 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket, threatening to steal an unlikely victory and keep the series alive. Short aided Pakistan’s cause by dropping a simple catch in the outfield to hand Khan a massive reprieve on 41.
However, the tourists lost 4-5 in ten deliveries to ruin any chance of a miracle comeback, with Johnson and leg-spinner Adam Zampa snaring two wickets each.
Khan (37 not out from 28 balls) refused to back down, clobbering a trio of boundaries against seamer Nathan Ellis in the 18th over to give Pakistan’s fans a glimmer of hope, but he ran out of partners following two late run-outs.
The third T20 between Australia and Pakistan, a dead rubber, gets underway at Hobart’s Bellerive Oval on Monday at 7pm AEDT.
BIG THREE ‘NOT GOING ANYWHERE’
Johnson has been a fringe member of Australia’s white-ball squads for more than 12 months, but Saturday’s performance at the SCG cemented his status as a future superstar.
The left-armed quick, touted as Mitchell Starc’s long-term replacement, sprayed the Kookaburra on both sides of the pitch in a wayward opening over, but he was sublime for the remainder of his spell.
With a Champions Trophy campaign on the horizon, Johnson has pushed his case for a spot in Australia’s squad for the ICC event, with the likes of Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Jhye Richardson and Lance Morris also fighting for a plane ticket.
However, he doesn’t expect to break into the first-choice starting XI anytime soon. In his eyes, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Starc aren’t going anywhere.
“Those the big three, they’re unbelievably durable, and they’ve done it for so long,” Johnson said.
“They’re going to be here for a long time. They’re not going anywhere.
“I think they’re only getting better.”
RAUF MAKES BIG BASH CLUBS LOOK FOOLISH
The eight Big Bash clubs must be wondering whether they backed the wrong horse.
Haris Rauf has been the pick of Pakistan’s bowlers during this white-ball tour of Australia, taking 15 wickets across five matches.
The right-armed quick claimed four wickets at the SCG on Saturday to rip the heart out of Australia’s middle order, producing 13 dot balls in his four-over spell.
Rauf credits his prior experience playing cricket in Australia for his recent success, including four campaigns with the Melbourne Stars in the BBL.
However, the Stars, along with the seven other Big Bash clubs, ignored Rauf during this season’s overseas player draft, a decision they may now be regretting.
Rauf would have missed the start of this summer’s BBL due to Pakistan’s white-ball tour of South Africa in December, but he indicated he was available for at least six group-stage matches and the entire finals campaign.
