Pakistan v Australia, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the only Twenty20 International, Pakistan v Australia, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Dubai, October 5, 2014 (floodlit). Australia won by six wickets. Toss: Pakistan. Twenty20 international debuts: Saad Nasim; S. A. Abbott, C. J. Boyce, P. J. Hughes, K. W. Richardson.
Two new captains, one old story - Australian dominance over Pakistan. More than three years after his last stint, Shahid Afridi replaced Mohammad Hafeez as Pakistan's skipper, while Aaron Finch succeeded George Bailey in charge of an Australian side with four debutants in the format, including - poignantly, in retrospect - Sean Abbott and Phillip Hughes. However, it was a Twenty20 veteran who set up the win: Maxwell was supposed to swing matches with his explosive batting, but it was his gentle off-spin which did for Pakistan. Opening the bowling, he took three top-order wickets in seven legitimate balls. Pakistan threatened three figures only thanks to 20 extras, and 25 from the debutant Saad Nasim, a 24-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder from Lahore. Australia's debutant leggie, Cameron Boyce from Queensland, took two for ten in his four overs.
Man of the Match: G. J. Maxwell.
Two new captains, one old story - Australian dominance over Pakistan. More than three years after his last stint, Shahid Afridi replaced Mohammad Hafeez as Pakistan's skipper, while Aaron Finch succeeded George Bailey in charge of an Australian side with four debutants in the format, including - poignantly, in retrospect - Sean Abbott and Phillip Hughes. However, it was a Twenty20 veteran who set up the win: Maxwell was supposed to swing matches with his explosive batting, but it was his gentle off-spin which did for Pakistan. Opening the bowling, he took three top-order wickets in seven legitimate balls. Pakistan threatened three figures only thanks to 20 extras, and 25 from the debutant Saad Nasim, a 24-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder from Lahore. Australia's debutant leggie, Cameron Boyce from Queensland, took two for ten in his four overs.
Man of the Match: G. J. Maxwell.