“[Pakistan were] 121 [119] 4 for 16 overs. There’s enough in that wicket to suggest that 165 is going to be a real challenge,” Fleming said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out show after the first innings. “There was inconsistent bounce, a bit of movement on offer. And it was turning.
“So as a unit, you have to say, ‘We’ve got some artillery here, we know we just need to get one score on the board and we’ll compete’. The reality is that the last Four overs went for 16. [18] Goes on, I think it’s a big mistake.”
“Even at 10 p.m [runs per over]you get to 161 and if you have a good over you get to 165 which I think is more competitive than we’ve seen,” Fleming said. “Probably a faster and more skilled player. Offering a pace attack. So yes, there was a lot going on till then, but Pakistan missed a big trick.
Fleming said that Pakistan did not read the ground dimensions and conditions well. “Teams often go to the MCG and they traditionally think that we will get to 16 overs and then we will score 15 runs in an over and we will get a good score. The MCG is not that ground. If someone Research should have been done on how to end the innings.”
Pakistan’s last three recognizable batsmen – Shaan Masood, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz – were all caught trying to hit big at the MCG. “He and two who were very good throughout the innings, he disappeared and all of a sudden he was trying to hit it outside the 85-metre boundaries,” Fleming said. “And it just doesn’t work. Livingstone is there, just picking it up. Sorry, I think it wasn’t smart and it could have cost, the score of 165 was easily there.”
Former Australian all-rounder Tom Moody said Masood, who scored 38 off 28 balls in the final, created the right template by running between the wickets.
“I think it was Babar’s dismissal in the 12th over, and from then on, it just went south where he just seemed to be at a loss as to how to accumulate runs and that 160. -Get up to 165 which flame [Fleming] Speaking of, “Moody said.” In a total of 120 balls, if you are hitting six fours and two sixes. [Pakistan scored eight fours and two sixes]I think that shows more than anything that there really wasn’t anybody else at that level who could hit a few boundaries in those last four overs.
“It was a very disappointing finish from Pakistan, it should have been more than what they got and it was really down to some poor management with their batting in the last 10 overs.”
“And that’s something I didn’t see in Babar either, although Babar batted well until he got out. Shaun Masood controlled the proceedings better, in terms of how he wanted to bowl. .
“That’s something, once he got out he put pressure on the Pakistani batsmen and they just kept looking for boundaries that never came.”
From 119 for 4, Pakistan posted 137 for 8 in 20 overs – the lowest first batting total in this T20 World Cup.
