Taufiq Umar highlights positives after back-to-back defeats

Pakistan women's team batting coach Taufiq Umar highlighted positives after they lost back-to-back ODIs against Australia. 

Australia thumped Pakistan by 10 wickets on Wednesday to win three-match ODI series with a match to go on January 21. 

In a video released by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after the second ODI, Umar said conditions in Australia are batting-friendly and their batters lacked good partnerships. 

"We lacked partnerships. As you know, conditions here are batting-friendly. There is a lot of bounce on the pitch," he shared. 

"It is difficult to adjust in these conditions. Especially, when you come from Asian conditions," he added. 

While talking about the performance of Nida Dar, Umar said it's a positive sign for the team moving ahead. 

"It's a positive sign that Nida is performing well for us. In the last match, she scored fifty and today also she scored with the bat. It's a good sign that your senior batters are performing and I hope we will bounce back in next match," he concluded. 

Second ODI 

Chasing a target of 126, Australia’s opening batters Beth Mooney and Phoebe Litchfield helped their side reach home in the 20th over.

Litchfield returned unbeaten on 67 from 61 balls, smashing 10 boundaries. Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batter Mooney scored 57 from 55 balls, which included six fours.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan lost their opening batter Sidra Amin in the second over with two runs on the board.

Muneeba and captain Bismah added 41 runs for the second wicket before the former perished for 18 off 41 balls which included three fours.

The previous match half-centurion for Pakistan, Nida Dar again showed some resistance before being run out after scoring 24 off 38 balls, which included two fours.

Bismah was other contributor with the bat scoring 21 off 46 balls, hitting one four.

For Australia, player of the match right-arm fast Darcie Brown took three wickets for 32, while Annabel Sutherland and Alana King bagged two wickets apiece.

Both sides will now feature in the third ODI scheduled to take place at the North Sydney Oval in Sydney on Saturday, 21 January 2023.