Azam, Iftikhar help stuttering Pak post 150-run target for Australia

Pakistan will be looking to make amends in the second T20I against Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Tuesday. The Men In Green will consider themselves very lucky after the first T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground which was abandoned due to rain on Sunday. Chasing a revised target of 119 in 15 overs, the Aussies had got off to a brisk start as they reached 41/0 in 3.1 overs.

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Babar Azam rescues Pakistan once again

Babar Azam again rescued Pakistan when they seemed to be down and out. After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the No.1 T20I team were reeling at 29/2 after losing the wickets of opener Fakhar Zaman and Haris Sohail. Babar was then joined in the middle by wicket-keeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan. Azam continued to stay focussed when Pakistan suffered a top-order collapse before he was joined by Iftikhar Ahmed. The newly appointed Pakistan skipper went on to score his second straight half-century in this series. However, just at the wrong time, his stay at the crease came to an abrupt end due to brilliant direct hit from David Warner for a fantastic 38-ball 50 which included six boundaries at a strike rate of 131.58.

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Iftikhar Ahmed helps Pakistan post 150/6

When it looked like Babar Azam's wicket would open the floodgates for Australia, Iftikhar Ahmed stood firm at one end as he took the attack to the Australian bowlers. He was involved in a vital 40-run stand for the sixth wicket with all-rounder Imad Wasim. Ahmed played a cameo of a 34-ball unbeaten 62 including five boundaries and three maximums at a strike rate of 182.35 which helped Pakistan get to 150/6 in their 20 overs. For Australia, Ashton Agar was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/23 in his four overs.

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