Bailey enjoyed tight contest in Abu Dhabi
Australia stand-in ODI skipper George Bailey was pleased with the way his side responded to the pressure in the third ODI against Pakistan, saying they needed to do the same at the World Cup.
The Aussies won by just one run, with Pakistan collapsing from a strong position. They only needed two runs off the final over, with two wickets in hand, but Glenn Maxwell removed both of those in a maiden.
Australia thus won the series three-nil and Bailey said: “To be honest, I don’t think we played our best cricket over here, appreciating the conditions are different and challenging and we worked hard to prepare for those.
“The most pleasing thing, for my part, was the fact that we had to battle in every game. Not everything went our way and there weren’t scores of 300.
“To see our energy and fight and intent to get through difficult phases, and absorb the pressure Pakistan were putting and throw it back on them – I think that was more pleasing.
“I think that’s the sort of stuff that will happen in World Cups in games that come to the crunch point and then you will have to absorb pressure and stand up and guys will have to deliver match-winning performances.
“So the more you can find ways to win games like we did tonight, that holds you down the road. But ideally, we are looking to play better cricket as a team.”
He also spoke of the use of three fast bowlers at the death, saying he was desperate for some wickets, given Pakistan were well on their way to the 232 required. Then Kane Richardson and James Faulkner triggered a collapse.
Bailey added: “The dream scenario is knocking them over in the 42nd over. In my book, it was pretty stressful.
“The position we were in, I felt that unless we got our quicks in and got some wickets and got ourselves back in the game, then they were going to win the game in the 46th-47th over and that was about where the spin was going to come back into play.
“In some ways, it’s a risk but we had to try and get back into the game.”
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