Pakistan’s white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan cited dropped catches as a key factor in the team’s narrow defeat against Australia in the second T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday. The loss allowed Australia to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Chasing a modest target of 148, Pakistan faltered under pressure, managing only 134 before being bowled out in the final over. The touring side’s top order collapsed early, leaving the team reeling at 44/4 in 9.3 overs.
Despite valiant efforts by middle-order batters Usman Khan and Irfan Khan, Pakistan could not recover from their sluggish start. Usman top-scored with a determined 52 off 38 balls, featuring five boundaries and a six, while Irfan contributed an unbeaten 37 off 28 deliveries. Their contributions, however, were insufficient to steer the team to victory.
Rizwan highlighted the significance of fielding lapses during the post-match presentation, emphasizing the challenge of competing against a formidable Australian side while conceding additional opportunities. Dropped catches at critical junctures, he noted, made the task of taking 16 wickets instead of the required 10 nearly insurmountable.
On a pitch Rizwan described as difficult to bat on, the team’s struggles were compounded by missed chances in the field. Australia capitalized on Pakistan’s errors to post a competitive 147/9, thanks to disciplined bowling from Haris Rauf, Abbas Afridi, and Sufiyan Muqeem, who spearheaded Pakistan’s comeback by restricting the hosts in the latter stages.
In pursuit, Pakistan’s batting unit failed to build momentum, with Rizwan himself managing a scratchy 16 off 26 balls. The late efforts by Usman and Irfan provided hope but could not cover for the early damage caused by the faltering top order.
With the loss, Australia secured the series ahead of the final fixture in Hobart on Monday. Pakistan will now look to salvage some pride in the concluding match, aiming to address their shortcomings and regain confidence.
The defeat serves as a stark reminder of the importance of fielding and seizing key moments in high-stakes matches, particularly against strong opposition like Australia on their home turf.
