Twenty20 / Andy Morris / 06 May 2009 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Australia lost the first and last ODIs against Pakistan, but they were the better side for most of the series and can head back home in high spirits after winning the T20 finale, writes Andy Morris.

It's tough to choose between these sides in Twenty20 betting based purely on past meetings - they have only faced each other once in this form of the game, two years ago, with Pakistan winning by six wickets.

But there should be a major crossover from the form the respective sides have shown in the 50-overs-a-side contests, and you have to like the way Australia have been going.

Even in defeat in the final ODI, they batted well and looked to have made a defendable target. Shane Watson made 116 from 146 balls, treating the Pakistan attack with disdain - particularly anything short of a length. And he had good support from Callum Ferguson, who has had little chance to shine in the last few weeks but came good when given the opportunity and made an unbeaten 41 from 42 balls.

Making exactly five an over, Australia got off to a good start when Watson and Brad Haddin put on 58 for the first wicket, then Michael Clarke weighed in with 26.

But it was a surprising innings from Pakistan, who were 3-56 but then found their match winners in Kamran Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq. The pair put on a record stand for the fourth wicket in ODIs against Australia, the pair complementing each other beautifully with their range of shots and showing a speedy turn of foot between the wickets, too.

Misbah had hardly featured with the bat in the previous matches and the only time Akmal contributed was when he top-scored in the first game, but the two played exceptionally well and Australia will need to contain them in the 20-over version - particularly if Akmal bats up the order, which he should do.

The fact remains, though, that Australia have had the only two batsmen in the series to have topped 200 - Watson averaged 90.33 from the series, while Clarke made 235 runs from his five innings.

Take away Akmal's game five innings and his return would be just 76 from four innings, while Misbah had made 85 in four innings up to game five. Salman Butt has hardly been a revelation with the bat, averaging just 22.40, while Australia have had good returns from James Hopes and Ferguson who have each averaged over 46 in the series.

The ODI series has not been tremendously high-scoring, but that should change in the T20 and I can foresee Australia coming out on top as they have the greater depth of batting.

I am taking Australia in match odds betting, and backing Watson to be the top Australian batsman.