END OF OVER:
15 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 107/5 | RR: 7.13

  • Babar Azam59 (38b)
  • Iftikhar Ahmed1 (1b)
  • Mitchell Starc3-0-22-2
  • Kane Richardson3-0-16-2

4.50pm Confirming the revised target is 119 from 15 overs and there will be a 5-over powerplay. Play will start at 5.02pm local time. That's 10 minutes away.

Ahmed: "Well done Babar! And with that one innings he has shut up a lot of critics who said captaincy will affect his batting. Just defined a captain's knock!"

Mirza Zaid: "Mohammad Irfan and Shadab Khan will be key players for Pakistan. "

4.40pm Pakistan have laboured to 107 for 5 on the back of their captain Babar Azam's half-century. "We got a couple of nice wickets in the Powerplay and the break probably stopped their momentum," says Mitchell Starc. "It's a good wicket." The revised target for Australia 119 in 15 overs. Alex Malcolm will step into the hot seat once again to launch the chase shortly.

14.6
1
Starc to Babar Azam, 1 run, 140ks yorker, tails in at middle, jabbed away to the leg side for one
14.5
2
Starc to Babar Azam, 2 runs, Starc hits a hard length on middle, does not come onto the bat, though. Babar is early into his shot and splices it over Starc's head
14.4
6
Starc to Babar Azam, SIX, banged in short and outside off, Babar jumps back, gets on top of the bounce and crunnnnnnches a pull in front of square for six
14.3
1
Starc to Iftikhar Ahmed, 1 run, off-stump yorker, 142ks, jammed into the covers for one
14.2
1lb
Starc to Babar Azam, 1 leg bye, full inswinger from wide of the crease, Babar has a bigger swing at it and misses. The sharp angle from Starc means it's heading down the leg side as Babar crosses over for a leg bye. Starc challenges the on-field not-out decision. It will stay as not out, missing leg comfortably enough

Ahmed joins his captain. Fine leg up

14.1
W
Starc to Imad Wasim, OUT, nice and full, right in the slot to be put away. Starc overpitches it on leg stump, Imad backs away and lofts it straight into the lap of long-on, where Smith pouches it. Gone for a golden duck

Imad Wasim c Smith b Starc 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

Last over of the innings. Starc to bowl it

END OF OVER:
14 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | PAK: 96/4 | RR: 6.85

  • Babar Azam50 (34b)
  • Imad Wasim0 (0b)
  • Kane Richardson3-0-16-2
  • Adam Zampa3-0-30-0

Mirza Zaid: "Richardson is mixing it up brilliantly, I hope Pakistan bowlers are taking notes."

13.6
4
Richardson to Babar Azam, FOUR, edged and Carey throws himself to his right, but can't touch the ball. On a length and wide outside off, Babar throws his hands at the ball and slashes it away from Carey's reach. The ball rolls away to the boundary and Babar marks his T20I captaincy debut with a fifty
13.5
W
Richardson to Asif Ali, OUT, 123ks slower ball outside off, Asif hauls it away to Agar in the outfield. Asif clears his front leg and miscues it to deep midwicket. Agar runs in and completes a smart catch. The big hits aren't coming off for Pakistan

Asif Ali c Agar b Richardson 11 (10b 0x4 1x6) SR: 110.00

13.4
1
Richardson to Babar Azam, 1 run, full on the stumps, shovelled away to deep square leg
13.3
1
Richardson to Asif Ali, 1 run, mid-off has just moved back and Asif finds that fielder with a swat off a slower variation
13.2
0
Richardson to Asif Ali, no run, lifter on middle, flies through to the keeper after beating Asif's hook
13.1
1
Richardson to Babar Azam, 1 run, short and holds its line outside off, lashed to sweeper cover off the back foot

Richardson back.

END OF OVER:
13 | 13 Runs | PAK: 89/3 | RR: 6.84

  • Babar Azam44 (31b)
  • Asif Ali10 (7b)
  • Adam Zampa3-0-30-0
  • Pat Cummins3-0-15-0
12.6
1
Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run, looped up on leg stump, slog-swept away to deep square leg on the fence
12.5
0
Zampa to Babar Azam, no run, Babar uses his feet, Zampa skids one in and hits the pads of the moving batsman

Hamza zaidi: "14 balls left for pakistan, surely need a blast from here. 125+ seems toughest but manageble with Asif and babar on crease"

4.30pm And we're back. Rain has cut the game to a 15-over contest. Can Asif finish the innings with a bang for Pakistan? Zampa to resume the 13th over...

4.15pm Here's the latest update from Gnasher: "4.30 restart if no more rain...15 overs per side."

4.11pm Better news: Some movement now and the covers are coming off. "There's a bit of a gap on the radar but some hefty rain out west."

4.10pm "Rain is lighter now but no movement on the covers yet," says Gnasher from SCG

3.30pm Gnasher doesn't bring us good news from Sydney: "Big cover is across the square as the rain comes down steadily...actually quite heavy now."

Edward Scarlet: "Classic Sydney, hasn't rained here in weeks and when we finally get the cricket, it starts pouring"

Abdullah: "I feel Wahab is a useful cricketer in t20s because of his blows with the bat, and improved death bowling. However I feel Irfan is too old and is too much of a liability while fielding to have been in this side."

Twenty years ago this month, no one thought Australia would win when they were staring down a huge target with five wickets in hand and a rookie keeper-batsman at the crease. A look back at the game that announced Adam Gilchrist to the world

Four teenagers, a 37-year-old giant, and Imran Khan - meet the new Pakistan pace pack

3.10pm Argh! The rain has returned to force the players off the field. Gnasher: "There are a few biggish patches of rain on the radar around Sydney at the moment. Will be a bit hit and miss how much we get."

Mirza Zaid: "I believe Babar has passed the first litmus test as a captain. His top order was dismissed Early but he didn't lose his shape. Though he looked nervous at start but came back strong"

Here's something to brighten you up. Sid Monga meets Faith Thomas,  the first woman of Aboriginal descent to represent Australia in any sport

Mirza Zaid: "I'm excited to see Irfan bowling in Aus. He could get bounce on dead pitches of UAE, I'm wondering what he will do here."

Aakif Khan: "A youngster should have been given a chance instead of at least one of either Mohammad Irfan or Wahab Riaz if not both ... Pak should focus on T20WC and not just a series."

Rajesh R: "Here Starc is rattled Pakistan in his first spell with the ball.By the way his partner Alyssa has rattled the Melbourne Stars with bat.What a couple!!!!!"

12.4
1
Zampa to Asif Ali, 1 run, pushed through outside off, tapped through the covers to follow the mighty six with a single

amit: "Babar Azam. You are a gem. Would love to see you play against India. You remind us of the days of Sachin Tendulkar, who carried the team and hopes of the nation almost alone. "

Pakistan in Australia 2019-20 News