Cricket: Pakistan gear up for Australia T20 take two

After finally breaking their losing run against Australia, can Pakistan sweep the T20 series?
They are 13/10 with Bet 365 to do so and look great value after a brilliant bowling display to take the opener at Edgbaston by 23 runs.

They can also expect the atmosphere of a home match judging by the support they had in game one – and after first win over the Aussies in 13 attempts, how could they not feel lucky?

PAKISTAN v AUSTRALIA ODDS

Australia: 8/13
Pakistan: 13/10

PAKISTAN v AUSTRALIA MATCH ANALYSIS

Pakistan’s bowling attack were outstanding in their win over Australia in Game One. There were superb spells from the returning Umar Gul, from Shahid Afridi, and not least spinner Saeed Ajmal, who suffered that terrible mauling at the hands of Mike Hussey in the World T20 semi-finals where Pakistan looked in such a good position.

Pakistan’s batting can also improve from the opening game, where Umar Akmal’s 64 in 31 balls was the fastest half-century by a Pakistani in this form of the game. He’s an exciting find at international level. If you are looking for the top run scorer in each innings, then it may pay to look beyond the openers, who have to deal with the impressive opening pair of Shaun Tait & Dirk Nannes. The back ups may not quite be up to Pakistan’s level. Kamran Akmak, at 7/2 with Bet 365 comes in at three and should have time to build a good innings.

Australia’s batsman struggled to flow freely against Pakistan, and its difficult to imagine a change in venue can make that much difference, with even David Warner subdued. If the Pakistani upper order can just throw together a few more runs, they have the attack to defend it. For Australia, we still like David Hussey as top scorer – he’s Mr.Consistent in T20 cricket and is 5/1 to top score for the Aussies with Bet 365.

WHAT THEY SAID

Michael Clarke (Australia):“Pakistan bowled really well and we got done by the better team. Umar Gul was fantastic at the death.”
Shahid Afridi (Pakistan): “We played good and mature cricket. The way Umar Gul is bowling is always amazing. He knows how to bowl yorkers”