Nine Consecutive Dot Balls - Pakistan Score Just Two Runs In Final Two Overs In Perth T20I Vs Australia

In the death overs, a batsman, be it a top order or the lower order go for big hits in order to boost the side towards a big score. However, in the Perth Twenty20 International, Pakistan did what only Pakistan can do. They played out dot balls in the death overs. The end result - Only 16 runs in the last five overs. Even more perplexing - just two runs in the final two overs. Pakistan ended with 106/8 but the exhibition of batting from the Pakistan lower order, in particular from Mohammad Hasnain made for some sad reading. Hasnain came to bat in the final ball of the 17th over after Kane Richardson had gotten rid of top-scorer Iftikhar Ahmed for 43 and Shadab Khan cheaply. The beginning was promising from Hasnain as he drilled a full ball from Richardson to the deep extra cover fence for a boundary.

Mohammad Amir hit a six to third man off Mitchell Starc to help Pakistan go past 100 and he took a single. What followed next was next-level comic batting from Hasnain. Starc bowled from wide of the crease and angled a full ball in twice and Hasnain had a wild swing at it but missed it. The two balls were a sign of worse things to come.

In the 19th over bowled by Richardson, Amir rook a single first ball and Hasnain struggled. The pace bowler made room and look to flay a short, slow ball but missed it. Hasnain missed for the fourth consecutive time when he missed a full ball. He missed for the fifth time when he swung at a short delivery. The next two balls were two short balls and Hasnain swung wildly but missed it. Having faced seven consecutive dot balls, the pressure was on him.

Amir struggled to lay bat on ball for the first three balls of the final over and on the fourth ball, he managed to get a run which was Pakistan's first after eight balls. This was during the death overs. On the fifth ball, Hasnain again made room but missed a shot for the eighth time and the misery was complete when he missed for the ninth time as Pakistan ended with 106/8.

Also Read | Australia Frustrated As Pakistan Saved By Rain In First T20I Match

Pakistan were rescued by the rain in the Sydney Twenty20 International but they were thrashed by seven wickets in the Canberra game thanks to a masterful knock of 80 from Steve Smith. Pakistan have lost four out of their last five Twenty20 Internationals, having been whitewashed 0-3 by Sri Lanka in the series which was played in Pakistan.

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