‌AUS vs PAK | Twitter reacts to Spencer’s fifer dwarf Rauf’s viscous spell as hosts gain unassailable lead

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

11/16/2024

Australia beat Pakistan by 13 runs in a low-scoring encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Usman Khan’s 52 and Irfan Khan’s unbridled 37 fell short as Spencer Johnson’s five-wicket-haul overshadowed Haris Rauf’s four-for to hand Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Winning their second toss of the series on a trot, Australia decided to replicate their previous decision of batting first. Although Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short kicked off the innings on a high, their assault was shortlived, courtesy of Haris Rauf’s audacious bowling in the fourth over. Australia managed to get just 11 runs off the next over, to sum up a 61-run powerplay. Sufiyan Muqeem and Abbas Afridi were brilliant in the middle overs phase, curbing the hosts to 87/4. Glenn Maxwell, who seemed struggling during his stay failed to convert his start, falling from 21 in the twelfth over. With the wicket offering a lot for varying the pace, Aaron Hardie and Tim David struggled until the latter fell prey to Rauf’s third scalp in the 15th over. The Aussie lower order added 24 runs in the next three overs before succumbing to 147/9 in 20 overs.

In response, Pakistan lost a couple of wickets in Babar Azam and Shahbzada Farhan as Xavier Bartlett kept things tight inside the third over. Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan soaked in pressure to add 27 runs together from 39 balls before Spencer Johnson removed Rizwan and Agha Salman on back-to-back balls. With 44/4 in ten overs, Pakistan seemed in trouble before Usman Khan’s blitz revived them for a good period. Irfan Khan and Usnman added 58 runs together for the fifth wicket before Spencer returned to break the stand in the 16th over. This made way for a lower order collapse, leaving Pakistan 25 runs short with a couple of wickets and overs left. A wicket fell in the next over and the last pair could withstand just four balls before Australia won by 13 runs.

Great fight

Great fright from usman khan and irfan niazi but how can you expect to win in Australia when you will hit first boundry in 10th over of the innings in T20s?great oppertunity lost to win t20 series in Australia....
— waleed Qureshi (@waleedQu15) November 16, 2024

Good win

#AUSvsPAK @CricketAus @TheRealPCB good win for australia. Dint give them a chance with 147 on board. Pakistan messed up the chase, it shld hv been a easy chase, thanks to Johnson 5fer, australia won the game and the series, which i doubted initially. Congratulations to australia
— Ashish Bakshi (@AshishBakshi75) November 16, 2024

What a win

Australia won by 13 Run 2nd T20I

Australia wins the T20I Series against Pakistan #PAKvsAUS #AUSvsPAK pic.twitter.com/NNjniLpSAt
— Cric Aassuu (@MohmmadAsif2000) November 16, 2024

Superb

#AUSvPAK

OUT! Haris Rauf's brief stay at the crease comes to an end, run out for 2(3). Pakistan 134 (19.4 overs), Australia wins by 13 runs.
— The Cricket Stories (@thecricstories) November 16, 2024

Crazy

*AUSTRALIA WINS!*

Congratulations to the Australian cricket team on their thrilling victory!
— Asad (@AsadSadiasad313) November 16, 2024

Gone

Pakistan 134 all out .

Australia won the match by 13 runs and also win the series by 2-0 with one match remaining . #PakvsAus #AUSvsPAK pic.twitter.com/Ioz9nXliTF
— TajalNoor (@tajal_noor) November 16, 2024

Decisive

Australia claims a decisive win in the T20 series, defeating Pakistan in the first two matches #PAKvsAUS
— khurramyarjaved (@khurram7774) November 16, 2024

Victory