Australia has made a perfect start as they look to wrap up the three-game T20 series against Pakistan in Hobart on Thursday, restricting the visitor’s runs and taking an early wicket.
Australia did miss one opportunity earlier in the innings as a diving attempt from Darcie Brown fell short, seeing Pakistan opener Muneeba Ali survive.
“I think that was a pretty decent effort to be fair,” Erin Burns said in commentary.
Javeria Khan though was not as fortunate as she was cleaned up by Ash Gardner, who took the opening wicket for Australia, leaving Pakistan at 1-17 after five overs.
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“Ash Gardner continues her wonderful form in both formats, but particularly for Australia in the green and gold, getting the wicket of Javeria Khan,” Mel Jones said in commentary for Fox Cricket.
“Well bowled there by Ash Gardner,” added Burns.
“I think there was a lot of pressure building, a lot of dot balls and Pakistan just not being able to get anything away. Perfectly bowled.”
There are no changes to the Australian team on Thursday as they look to wrap up the series after a dominant opening in Sydney, headlined by a five-wicket haul from Megan Schutt.
Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first and Rachael Haynes urged the visitors to take a few risks with the bat in hand if they were to be any chance of an upset on Thursday.
“For Pakistan to be any chance tonight they really do have to try and disrupt the Australian bowling attack,” Haynes said on Fox Cricket’s coverage of Thursday’s game.
“Whether it is using their crease a little bit or just trying to be a bit proactive with their running between wickets. Score off as many deliveries as possible and then see what they can really push for.”
If there is anything working in Pakistan’s favour though it is the fact Australia’s women’s T20 team has been unsuccessful in four games at Blundstone Arena.
It was a far from ideal start though as the automatically-timed sprinklers came on, with Anna Lanning labelling it “absolutely disgraceful”.
“WOULD NOT happen at a men’s international game,” she added on Twitter.
“That there is probably not the best of signs to start a T20 international,” Jones said in commentary.
“It’s not the warmest of days and there’ll be a mad rush from the ground staff and powers that be to switch it off.”
Australia already had a win earlier in the day, with all-rounder Tahlia McGrath crowned ICC Women’s T20 International Cricketer of the Year in what she described as an “absolute honour”.
McGrath, who was dismissed for 14 runs in the first game against Pakistan earlier this week, scored 435 runs at 62.14 in 16 T20I matches last year and also claimed 13 wickets at 12.84.
TEAMS
Australia XI: Beth Mooney (WK), Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Grace Harris, Annabel Sutherland, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
Pakistan XI: Muneeba Ali (WK), Javeria Khan, Bismah Maroof (c), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Ayesha Nasem, Aliya Riaz, Fatima Sana, Tuba Hassan, Aiman Anwar, Sadia Iqbal
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