Both teams made one change each to the sides that contested the first T20I in Abu Dhabi – Australia brought in Mitchell Marsh for Ashton Agar, whilst Pakistan drafted in Shoaib Malik to replace Hussain Talal.
Pakistan won the toss in Dubai and elected to bat first. They got off to a fast start through Babar Azham and Fakar Zahman, but then lost Fakhar for 11, caught behind off the bowling of Nathan Coulter-Nile.
However, Babar and Mohammad Hafeez helped put their side in a strong position with a stand of 70 for the second wicket, which was finally broken in the 14th over when Hafeez, who had struck two sixes, was caught off the bowling of Billy Stanlake for 40. Two overs later, it was Babar’s turn to get out, holing out at long off to Aaron Finch off the bowling of Short for 45.
Asif Ali added 9 before he, too, was caught in the deep, with Stanlake the bowler again. Malik was then beaten by Coulter-Nile in the air to give Marsh a straightforward catch at mid-off, out for 14, and the same combination accounted for Hasan Ali next ball, although this was a much more difficult chance to take. Faheem Ashraf provided a late cameo with 17 off just 10 balls, including a six, as Pakistan closed on 147/6. Coulter-Nile with 3 for 18 was the pick of the Australian bowlers.
In reply, Australia lost an early wicket when Short was run out for 2. Chris Lynn came in, hit a six, but then gave a leading edge to Shadab Khan running in from the deep, and departed for 7, with the bowler Imad Wassim. The Aaron Finch, who had really struggled to make an impact holed out to Shad for 3, as Australia struggled to 31/3.
Marsh and Glenn Maxwell then looked to lead a recovery but, after adding 30 together, Marsh was caught behind off the bowling of Shadab for 21. Then Alex Carey gave a leading edge to short cover off a ball from Hafeez, and was out for just a single. When Ben McDermott was then run out for 3, the visitors’ hopes had all but evaporated.
However, an Australia side with a Glenn Maxwell in form always have a chance, and, together with Coulter-Nile, he looked to pull off an unlikely victory. The pair began to throw the bat, with one shot from Coulter-Nile actually clearing the stadium, as the final over began with 23 still needed. Sadly for Australia they lost Maxwell to the third ball caught by Malik off the bowling off Afridi for 52, with two sixes to his name. Coulter-Nile perished off the penultimate ball for a valiant 27, which included 3 sixes, and Australia ended 12 short of their target.
Imad Wasim was named man of the match for a 4 over spell that only yielded 8 runs and one wicket.