The T20 record

Record : 24 sixes hit in today T20 match between India & New Zealand (Full Scorecard). India and Australia held the previous record of most 6s in a 20 over match (20) when they played the semi-final match in T20 World Cup 2007 at Durban.
Teenager Umer Akmal lifted Pakistan to 153-5 before they survived a late charge by Brendon McCullum (47) and Scott Styris (43) to maintain their 100-per cent record against New Zealand. Pakistan, who won the first match by 49 runs on Thursday ... moreAustralia's innings went into freefall from the time Clarke sliced a ball to point to be caught for 32 from 26 balls. The next seven batsmen were dismissed for single figures as Australia lost its last eight wicket for 59 runs. Only a sensible late-order innings from the most experienced Twenty20 specialist, David Hussey, ensured Australia would reach three figures. Batting at four Hussey finished unbeaten on 40 from just 31 balls with a four and two sixes.Watson committed the first sin of the night, coming back for a very ambitious third run to be run out by a fine throw in the deep from Umar Akmal. However his first over with the ball was a gem, a wicket-maiden which sent Khalid Latif on his way for six to leave Pakistan 3-44. Latif may have been unlucky as replays suggested an inside edge.

David Warner, who made such a spectacular debut in the corresponding match a year ago against South Africa, smashing 89 in just 43 balls, started well again last night.

He made 24 in 14 balls with a four and a six before slicing a delivery from Mohammed Asif to deep point.
Shaun Tait unleashes record thunderbolt in T20 win



MICHAEL Clarke declared the "Wild Thing" is back after Shaun Tait bowled the fastest delivery ever recorded in Australia during a devastating spell which snatched Australia a Twenty20 victory over Pakistan in Melbourne last night.

The biggest roar of the night from the largest crowd of the summer, 60,045, came when a primed Tait clocked 160.7km/h with the third ball of Pakistan's innings on the way to finishing with 3-13 from his four overs.

Defending a meagre 127 after a dreadful batting performance, Australia restricted Pakistan to 9-125 from its 20 overs to win by two runs.

Under new Twenty20 captain Clarke, Australia completed a clean sweep of Pakistan this summer, having won all three Tests and all five one-day matches.

Two late wickets from 20-year-old debutant Steven Smith (2-34) compounded Pakistan's misery as Clarke bravely continued to attack. He kept a slip in for the young leg-spinner and twice put in three slips during Tait's blistering opening two overs.

Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.

End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.

It is not the first time in his career Tait has clocked the magical 100mph on the old scale but sadly the body of this super-talented 26-year-old has been so decimated by injury he now only plays the short forms of the game for South Australia.

"He's got more in him," Clarke joked after the match.

Tait is now chasing Shoaib Akhtar's world record of 161.3, recorded during the 2003 World Cup.

"It's amazing how fast Shoaib bowled," Tait said later. "I almost killed myself out there tonight. It (the record) is not something I think about all the time.

"There are only certain moments in your career when you've got a chance to do it. You've probably got two balls in a game. I did it with my third ball and had a crack with my next ball but it's hard to get back up to that pace."

Tait said he was able to bowl so quickly because he was fresh.

"Looking back, the decision I've made at this stage only to play the short forms of the game has been a pretty solid one," he said. "I'm really enjoying the shorter forms and tonight was just good fun."

After slumping to 4-59, Pakistan appeared it would run down victory thanks to an inspired innings from recalled wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal, who scored 64 in just 33 balls with seven fours and two sixes. He holed out to mid-on, giving Tait his third wicket.

Shane Watson at first slip took the catch for the first Tait wicket to dismiss Imran Farhat (8) after a direct hit by Mitchell Johnson removed Imran Nazir without scoring. Then in a one-over second spell, Tait removed Pakistan's acting captain, Shoaib Malik for three, from 11 balls, when he chipped a full ball to debutant Travis Birt at mid-wicket.

Pakistan came into the game in disarray, with their third captain in as many matches after Shahid Afridi was suspended for bitting the ball during the fifth and final one-day match in Perth.