Ganesh Kendale
NEW DELHI: The second T20I between Pakistan and Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday saw high drama both on and off the field, with tensions boiling over in the stands and during play.
Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam, who was standing on the ropes during Pakistan’s time to field in the first innings, found himself targeted by trolls in the crowd.
A group of fans taunted him, shouting, “Have some shame, (T20 mein teri jagah nahi banti) you have no place in T20s, go back to Pakistan.”
Their remarks drew a sharp reaction as Babar, visibly angered, turned and gave them an intense stare.
This only emboldened the hecklers, who continued mocking him, urging him to “stare again” and accusing him of merely dropping catches and clapping for other fielders.
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On the field, Australia clinched a 13-run victory to seal the three-match series 2-0.
Left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson stole the show, claiming a sensational 5/26. His fiery spell left Pakistan reeling at 44/4 midway through their chase of 148.
Star batter Babar Azam, opening Pakistan’s innings with new white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan, could only muster three runs off three balls before throwing his wicket away.
Despite the setback, Usman Khan (52 off 38) and Irfan Khan (37 not out) mounted a spirited fightback, keeping Pakistan in the game until the final over.
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Ultimately, the visitors were bowled out for 134 with two balls to spare, falling short of the target.
Earlier in the match, Australia posted 147/9 after electing to bat. Matthew Short (32) and Fraser-McGurk (20) provided a promising start, but Pakistan’s bowlers fought back strongly.
Haris Rauf led the attack with 4/22, supported by Abbas Afridi (3/17) and Sufiyan Muqeem (2/21), restricting the hosts to a sub-par total.
Chasing the modest target, Pakistan’s top order collapsed under relentless pressure from Johnson and Bartlett. While Usman Khan and Irfan Khan offered hope, a flurry of wickets in the final overs dashed their chances. Nathan Ellis held his nerve in the last over to secure the win.
As Australia aim for a clean sweep in the third T20I on Monday, Babar Azam faces mounting pressure both on the field and from their own fans.
