Finch describes Aussie collapse like car crash in slow motion
ABU DHABI: Australia’s sensational Powerplay batting collapse was like ‘watching a car crash in slow motion’ according to captain Aaron Finch after his side were dismissed for their third-lowest score in Twenty20 International cricket on Wednesday (also reported in Thursday’s edition).
Finch’s side were bundled out for 89 in the first Twenty20 International against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi with Sarfraz Ahmed’s side reducing them to 22 for six in the sixth over.
Pakistan won the game by 66 runs after they earlier posted 155 for eight, to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
“That Powerplay was horrific. It was carnage. It was like a car crash in slow motion,” Finch told reporters after his side crumbled at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
“Any time you lose five or six wickets in the power play it’s not ideal.”
The tourists’ run chase was only resurrected by bowlers Ashton Agar (19) and Nathan Coulter-Nile, who scored 34, with the pair helping them avoid their lowest score in Twenty20 International cricket of 79 against England in 2005.
The only other player to get into double figures was the returning Chris Lynn, who scored 14, and opener Finch, who was bowled for a three-ball duck by left-arm spinning all-rounder Imad Wasim said he accepted a lot of responsibility for the collapse himself.
“I had the responsibility to get us off to a good start and set up the chase,” Finch said. “When you get out in the first over and don’t get the start needed, that’s not good enough.”
Finch said the team would need to consider making some serious changes to their batting technique before the second game of the series at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
His batting lineup, without the suspended Steve Smith and David Warner, was arguably their strongest available with Finch, D’Arcy Short, Glenn Maxwell and Lynn providing some power hitting at the top of the order.
All four were bowled on what turned out to be a particularly benign batting surface.
“I think when that many guys get bowled it’s obviously alarming, particularly on a flat surface that didn’t swing a hell of a lot,” said Finch who was out trying to cut a ball from Wasim that hit middle stump. “The batting was awful. But we can bounce back. We do have a lot of experience in the team and some good players. One bad day with the bat doesn’t throw everything out the window.”
Paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with 2-23 while Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan took a wicket each.
Earlier, Pakistan were lifted by Babar and Mohammad Hafeez (39) as they added 73 for the second wicket in quick time.
But once Hafeez fell in the 14th over, Pakistan lost six wickets for just 28 runs with Sarfraz, Ashraf and Wasim falling without scoring while Shadab made just one.
It was left to Babar to keep one end intact during his sixth T20 half-century while Hasan used the long handle effectively, hitting two boundaries and a six in a handy 17 off eight balls to help add 41 in the last five overs.
Billy Stanlake (3-21) and Andre Tye (3-24) were the successful Australia bowlers.
An elated Sarfraz praised Pakistan’s all-round performance.
“Our bowling attack is good, so we try to put some runs on the board and back ourselves to defend,” said Sarfraz. “Babar Azam and Mohammed Hafeez batted beautifully and when we bowl we always try to take wickets when we have the ball in our hands.”
Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2018
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