Australia will need to handle Shaheen Shah Afridi’s inswing delivery well in the powerplay overs when they take on Pakistan in the second semi-final. t20 world cup, Captain Aaron Finch said on Wednesday.
Pakistan have won all five group league games, but it is Afridi’s first spell against India in a Super 12 game that is now a part of T20 folklore.
“Shaheen has been in really good form for Pakistan. Yeah, so it’s going to be an important fight, no doubt about it,’ Finch said at the pre-match press conference.
Underlining the importance of the first six overs, Finch said: “I think what we have seen throughout the tournament is how important the powerplay is for batting and bowling.
“I think the stats around the middle overs and the death overs are very similar, but the powerplay is definitely important.”
Finch did not give much emphasis to the theory that losing the toss could be a loss.
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“I think it doesn’t matter much when it comes to the finals, to be honest.
“I believe scoring runs on the board, especially in the final, can be really beneficial. We have talked about it. We believe if we bat first or second we can win “
He said Pakistan’s current form gives them the edge and also they have a quality spin attack in the form of left-arm spinner Imad Wasim, leg-spinner Shadab Khan and off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez.
“In terms of Pakistan spin, they have certainly had some decent success, with Imad bowling mainly in the powerplays and then Shadab excelling in the middle overs.”
But the Australian skipper has faith in Adam Zampa’s abilities and also backed Glenn Maxwell’s off-break.
“We are really happy with how Adam Zampa is doing. He has bowled brilliantly throughout this tournament. He has taken big wickets at crucial times. He gets good players out. The overs that Maxwell has bowled, Has done really well for them.”
For the Aussie though, it will be their quick attack that is expected to rule the roost.
“With the new ball, Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood have been fantastic. I think you can look at the statistics and you can think deeply whether you should bowl spin or fast in the powerplays.
“Sometimes it comes down to executing your best ball over and over again. For us Starc and Hazlewood have usually been the first two overs and Kammo is coming after him. We are really happy with the way he has performed and kept the pressure on the opposition.”
Such is the depth of Australia’s fast bowling that Kane Richardson, one of the best fast bowlers in the shortest format, does not get a look-in.
“They are a world-class trio of fast bowlers and we also have Kane Richardson, arguably one of the best T20 bowlers in the world, who hasn’t performed yet, but yes, we really are,” Finch said. I am happy with how it went.
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David Warner’s IPL side Sunrisers Hyderabad may have dried him out during the second leg of the IPL, but his opening partner and captain never doubted that the flamboyant southpaw would return to form.
Warner has had a good tournament so far and could be a game-changer against Pakistan.
He said, ‘Yes, I was never worried about Dave’s form. He is one of the greatest batsmen of all time. I think you can look at it as if he had a really lean IPL and then this tournament started, but the two halves of the IPL were a long way off,” Finch explained.
“… so if you miss a couple of times at the end of the first part, which was in India, and then the first two games in Dubai, it looks like a run of form is a pattern there, but I would definitely Wasn’t worried. He’s all class; He’s trained hard; He’s fresh mentally; He’s ready to go.
“It’s great to see the best of him fit and firing. As we all know, it’s a great sight when he gets ready for Australia and scores runs.”
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