Michael Kasprowicz stirs Pakistan Shaheens with Aussie tactics
DARWIN –The left-handed batter made 57 not out off 44 balls, hitting nine fours, to help his side overhaul the 123-run target at the 15.2 overs mark. This was Pakistan Shaheens’ second game in the 2023 Top End T20 Series.
Pakistan Shaheeen are all set to take on Australian Capitol Territory (ACT) in the Top End T20 Series at the DXC Arena in Darwin today (Tuesday).
The first ball will be bowled at 1800 local time. The tournament matches will be live-streamed on Tapmad within Pakistan (infographic attached).
On Sunday, the Team Green suffered defeat in their opening match of the event as Northern Territory Strike won the game by 59 runs.
Opting to bat first, Northern Territory Strike scored 185 for five in 20 overs. Param Uppal top-scored for his side, returning unbeaten on 59 off 28 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes. Opening batter Josh Kann was other contributor with the bat, scoring a 31-ball 47, which included two fours and four sixes.
For Shaheens, spinners Aaliyan Mahmood and Arafat Minhas bagged two wickets apiece.
In turn, Shaheens got off to a shaky start, losing two wickets in the first two balls of their innings to right-arm fast Tom Menzies.
Opening batter Shamyl Hussain was joined by captain Rohail Nazir and the pair stitched a 49-run partnership for the third wicket. Left-handed Shamyl returned back to the hut in the eighth over after scoring 26 off 23 balls, which included two fours and a six. After Shamyl’s departure, Arafat (3, 5b) was soon back in the hut with Shaheens reeling at 62 for four in 8.5 overs.
At that stage, Mohammad Irfan Khan joined captain Rohail and the duo knitted 29 runs for the fifth wicket – the second-best partnership of the innings for the visiting team. The dangerous looking Rohail got out in the 13th over after scoring 41 off 33 balls, hitting two sixes and a four.
Irfan (20, 15b, 2x4s) and Ahmed Khan (19, 12, 1×4, 1×6) were the other contributors with the bat before Shaheens were bundled out for 126 in 18.4 overs. For Northern Territory Strike, Jack Wood and Menzies took four wickets each.
Earlier,
Former Australian fast bowler Michael Kasprowicz met with the Pakistan Shaheens team during their ongoing tour in Darwin. The meeting took place ahead of their crucial match in the Top&T20 series, where the Shaheens are participating along with five other teams.
Rohail Nazir-led Pakistan Shaheens departed for Australia in the wee hours of Wednesday to feature in Top End T20 Series and two 50-over matches in Darwin which are being organised by Northern Territory Cricket (NTC) from 30 July to 9 August.
During the meeting, Michael Kasperovich extended a warm welcome to the Pakistan Shaheens players and shared his vast experience and insights regarding playing cricket in Australia.
