Pakistan vs Australia 2018, 2nd T20I, Match Prediction: Who will win the Match?

Will Australia put up an improved show?

Published - 25 Oct 2018, 17:38 IST | Updated - 25 Oct 2018, 17:38 IST

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If first T20 International was anything to go by, Pakistan start this game as the favourites. The series is up for grabs and the way World number 1 team is playing, it looks certain that they might seal the contest on Friday itself. Having said that, counting out Australia would be the last mistake, the Men in Green would want to make at this stage. They did the unthinkable in the first Test to play out 140 overs batting last and certainly have the ability to bounce back in the series.

Aaron Finch referred the team’s batting collapse in the series opener to a ‘car crash in slow motion‘ and definitely they will put up an improved display in this game. The bowling attack did its job perfectly to restrict the hosts and they will be tipped to do the same again. Though the batsmen have to show some resistance against the spinners and the way Australian cricket is faring these days, they will take victory in any format at the moment.

Sarfraz Ahmed was happy after a thumping victory. But even he knows that they bottled all their advantage in the last 10 overs after being comfortably placed thanks to Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez. Pakistan’s strength has always been their bowling and it will look to continue making merry of the under-fire visitors.

Pitch and Weather

When you are playing in Dubai, rain will not make an appearance for sure and the temperature is set to hover around 33 Degrees Celsius. With dew likely to play its role, the teams winning the toss might opt to field first. In that case, Australia will be confused after what transpired in Abu Dhabi.

Team Combinations

Pakistan

Shoaib Malik was unavailable due to some reasons for the first game and there is still doubt over his inclusion in the second game. Pakistan cantered to victory in his absence but his presence in the middle-order is important for this team. Hussain Talat might have to sit out in that case who couldn’t contribute much to the team’s cause in Abu Dhabi game. The rest of the line-up should be the same.

Probable XI: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfraz Ahmed (c & wk), Shoaib Malik/Hussain Talat, Faheem Ashraf, Asif Ali, Shadab Khan, Imad Wasim, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi.

Australia

Australia too might guard against making a wholesale of changes. They played the same XI which defeated the UAE three days ago. But they the batting group didn’t fire at all against a superior opposition. The top six Aussie batters might get another chance to redeem themselves before making any changes. Though Mitchell Marsh’s inclusion might be a possibility as the series is at stake.

Probable XI: Aaron Finch (c), D’Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott/Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa, Andrew Tye, Billy Stanlake.