Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Finch comes up, shares a big, friendly handshake with Babar on the way. "Really proud of my boys. The way we've applied ourselves over the last couple of weeks has been really impressive. We're improving as a team, and that's the most important thing. The way Ashton bowled in these two series was amazing. He was outstanding, alongside Adam Zampa, and they were bowling against quality players of spin. The quicks in the Powerplay were outstanding, too. Starc in general and Abbott today.

"It's pleasing one of our top three batted really deep throughout the two series, and we can only kick on from here."

So Australia finish 2019 unbeaten in the shortest format, and within 12 months, have propelled themselves to among the hottest favourites for the World T20 next year. For now, they celebrate with the trophy, and it's time for us to sign off here. From Danyal and Alex, goodbye, and many thanks for joining us.

Babar is up there now. "I am very disappointed, but we lost to a very good team. We've learnt a lot and we want to make sure we don't make the same mistakes again. As captain, I learnt a lot personally too, but there's along way to go. Musa and Hasnain were bowling well, but Finch and Warner were just in a different class. We wanted to blood them through, however, and I'm sure the experience will be good for them in future. Our focus moves to the Test series and the four-day games now, and we're excited for it."

Right, so here come the presentations. The player of the match is Sean Abbott. Fantastic on his return to international cricket; first game for Australia in 5 years.

"It's been a privilege to be part of this side," he says. "A lot of hard work has gone into it, but there's a lot of talent in this country. It's awesome to be back out here tonight. The guys have been playing really well and they've welcomed me back in the group. Very pleased."

The player of the series is Steve Smith; I suppose the innings in the second T20I was good enough to merit it.

"It was nice to contribute, but i'm a little but surprised to be up here for this award." He pays rich tribute to the bowlers, too. "You always want to try and do well for the team and get better and it was nice to contribute to the team. My role is to fix it when the top two don't come off."

We're with you for the presentations, hopefully, and we'll bring you what the captains had to say after an exceptionally one-sided game here in Perth

Australia keep their unbeaten T20 streak in 2019 intact. Pakistan never looked like threatening that, in reality. The 2-0 scoreline actually flatters Pakistan; Australia would have romped home in the first T20, surely. Many thought Pakistan would be a sterner test for Australia than Sri Lanka, but if anything, Babar Azam's men have rolled over even more easily. The pacers were ineffective; Australia lost three wickets in the whole series. The batsmen were abject, relying on Babar and Iftikhar to put runs on the board, when more contributions were needed.

END OF OVER:
20 | 1 Run | PAK: 106/8 | RR: 5.30

  • Mohammad Hasnain4 (10b)
  • Mohammad Amir9 (9b)
  • Sean Abbott4-0-14-2
  • Kane Richardson4-0-18-3

And if it isn't, then you'll know Pakistan's bowlers will be at their legendary, mythical best. That should be worth a watch, but you really have to be the optimistic sort, and from the evidence of the feedback I'm receiving, there's little evidence of that.

Either way, join us in 20 minutes or so, where Alex will take you through the first ten overs of that innings!

Sajid: "Any chance we can rely on our second best batsman after Babar Azam, a certain Mr. Rain?"

19.6
0
Abbott to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, and ends, predictably, with another miss. Two off the final two overs, and on a miserable evening in Perth, Pakistan limp to 106. They trudge off, no sign of a spring in their step, while Australia are practically prancing off the field. This should be comfortable for them
19.5
0
Abbott to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, Hasnain swings like a rusty gate, as they say these days. Just one off five balls this final over
19.4
1
Abbott to Mohammad Amir, 1 run, hallelujah, there's bat on ball! And there's even a ticking over of the scores. They take a single. A SINGLE! What will Australia do now?
19.3
0
Abbott to Mohammad Amir, no run, make that eight! Amir looks to scoop this over fine leg. Doesn't even make contact with it
19.2
0
Abbott to Mohammad Amir, no run, Amir backed away to try and cut it through the covers. Misses again. That's seven balls in a row the bat hasn't made contact with the ball
19.1
0
Abbott to Mohammad Amir, no run, short ball, Amir ducks below it

Rehan : "Lets just cancel tests and award it to Australia 2-0 without wasting any more resources " Oooh, they keep getting bleaker, these messages.

Abbott to bowl the last over

END OF OVER:
19 | 1 Run | PAK: 105/8 | RR: 5.52

  • Mohammad Hasnain4 (8b)
  • Mohammad Amir8 (5b)
  • Kane Richardson4-0-18-3
  • Mitchell Starc4-0-29-2
18.6
0
Richardson to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, swing and a miss. Hasnain has clearly decided that is all he wants to do. top stuff from Richardson. Just one off that over
18.5
0
Richardson to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, four in a row. Nothing connecting for Hasnain now, and Amir can only watch from the other end
18.4
0
Richardson to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, but who cares what I think? Another lavish swing, another obvious miss. One off four balls this over
18.3
0
Richardson to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, Carbon copy. Hasnain might have to consider descending from cloud nine, where he might still be after that lovely cover drive first ball. Needs to rotate the strike
18.2
0
Richardson to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, wild swing from Hasnain, but Richardson says "I deserve more respect" with a ball that flummoxes the number 10 completely
18.1
1
Richardson to Mohammad Amir, 1 run, run down to third man

Hamza Mufarrih: "Are you carefully filtering out messages about Sarfaraz missing in action or is no-one talking about how Sarfaraz was really the reason why the t20 team did well. It was his aggressive approach to the format that made Pakistan so dangerous" If I'm doing that, I'm really not being careful enough

END OF OVER:
18 | 8 Runs | PAK: 104/8 | RR: 5.77

  • Mohammad Hasnain4 (3b)
  • Mohammad Amir7 (4b)
  • Mitchell Starc4-0-29-2
  • Kane Richardson3-0-17-3
17.6
0
Starc to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, yorker that just misses leg stump
17.5
0
Starc to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, he was barely in the same postcode. Looked to repeat the shot he played so well off Richardson, but the shorter length renders it impossible
17.4
1
Starc to Mohammad Amir, 1 run, yorker, Amir digs it out and the pair change ends
17.3
0
Starc to Mohammad Amir, no run, straight to the fielder
17.2
6
Starc to Mohammad Amir, SIX, that's better! First maximum of the night. Amir backs away again, but it was the shorter delivery that allowed Amir to get a thick edge on it, which carried all the way over the third man boundary
17.1
0
Starc to Mohammad Amir, no run, backs away, does Amir, and tentatively times it back down the ground
17.1
1w
Starc to Mohammad Amir, 1 wide, dragged down legside

END OF OVER:
17 | 4 Runs 2 Wkts | PAK: 96/8 | RR: 5.64

  • Mohammad Hasnain4 (1b)
  • Mohammad Amir0 (0b)
  • Kane Richardson3-0-17-3
  • Billy Stanlake4-0-19-0
16.6
4
Richardson to Mohammad Hasnain, FOUR, wow, what was that from Hasnain! No double wicket maiden for Richardson, as Hasnain middles his first ball for an exquisite cover drive that goes straight to the boundary! Watch and learn, Imad and Shadab, the teenager might meekly mutter to himself
16.5
W
Richardson to Shadab Khan, OUT, the miserable innings comes to an end! Well, colour me surprised! Shadab had been struggling badly all eight balls he was there, and this time, he got a thick edge. Mid-on made a bit of a meal of it, but that's it for the allrounder

Shadab Khan c Finch b Richardson 1 (8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 12.50

16.4
0
Richardson to Shadab Khan, no run, copy and paste. This time he tried a swivel-pull, but Carey gathers it behind the stumps again
16.3
0
Richardson to Shadab Khan, no run, swing and a miss. Shadab one off six now. Needs to kick on badly

Ahmed Shaukat: "I think it is a masterstroke to get beaten badly just before World cup so that everyone underestimate us and us being Pakistan would be predictably unpredictable. " The hope in Pakistan never really dies, does it?

16.2
0
Richardson to Shadab Khan, no run, clattered straight to point

Sheraz Ahmed: "Well ! One can now question as to how this team was able to reach the top in T20Is. "Pakistan = Miracles""