Australia v Pakistan: Second T20I preview

Australia can wrap up the T20 series with victory over Pakistan at the SCG on Saturday.

After losing the One Day International series to Pakistan, Australia were keen to bounce back in the T20s, and did just that in the opening match.

In a match that was reduced to just seven overs a side, due to the weather, Australia managed to win by 29 runs.

Pakistan will be determined to fight back in Sydney, but the Aussies are the hot fancies to win the match and go 2-0 up in the three-match series.

Once again Australia will rest their Test stars, giving the fringe players a chance to stake a claim for a place in the side.

Australia v Pakistan betting preview

Maxwell goes crazy

Glenn Maxwell was the star of the show, taking the player of the match award following a frantic night at the Gabba.

Thunderstorms in Brisbane meant it was reduced to seven overs each side, and Maxwell wasted no time in piling on the runs after the Aussie were put in to bat.

Openers Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk both went early, but Maxwell was on hand to smash 43 runs off just 19 deliveries.

A late flurry of 21 runs from Marcus Stoinis helped Australia to 93-4 off their seven overs, which turned out to be enough.

Xavier Bartlett took 3-13, while Nathan Ellis took 3-9 as Pakistan ended on 64-9 off their seven overs, 29 runs short.

Australia are likely to stick with the same side for the second match, which will be a big one for Short and Fraser-McGurk.

The duo are running out of chances to cement their spots at the top of the order following a disappointing ODI series, and some runs are needed.

Pakistan collapse at the Gabba

Pakistan will need to bounce back after they collapsed at the Gabba, losing early wickets to leave them on 4-4 at one stage.

Superstar Babar Azam was one of the early victims, making just three runs before Nathan Ellis took his wicket.

Pakistan will need a much-improved performance in Sydney, but one bright point was the performance of Abbas Afridi.

Afridi took two wickets in one over and was also Pakistan’s top batter when finishing the innings on 20 not-out.

Pakistan will need to sharpen up in the field if they are to get a result. Sloppy misfields and dropped catches cost them badly at the Gabba.

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Australia v Pakistan odds

Australia - 1.36
Pakistan - 3.20

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.