Salman Ali Agha and Usman Khan’s brisk half-centuries, backed by the spinners, powered Pakistan to a decisive 90-run victory over Australia in the second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.
Set a daunting 199, Australia’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for 108 in 15.4 overs.
With this victory, Pakistan sealed the three-match series 2-0 with one game remaining.
Skipper Mitchell Marsh started rapidly, hitting two sixes off Saim Ayub’s and Abrar Ahmed’s bowling.
However, Abrar got the better of him as he was trapped lbw on the last ball of the third over. Marsh scored 18 from 14 with the help of two sixes and a four.
It was a cherry on top for the home side as Saim cleaned up Travis Head to leave the visitors in a mess early in the innings. Consequently, Australia were 22-2 in 3.1 overs.
Pakistan spinners turned on the screws as Abrar and Ayub bowled in tandem to reap high rewards. The third wicket also fell in quick succession as Josh Inglis was caught on the crease. He managed only five runs with the aid of a boundary.
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Australia were reduced to 29-3 in 4.3 overs as Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green came to the fore.
The pair tried to arrest the slide, adding 24 runs to the fourth wicket partnership to put the chase back on track. Yet, Pakistan continued to mount pressure with economical bowling.
It was all spin over Australia, and this time it was Mohammad Nawaz who removed Renshaw (2) to put his side in command.
None of the Australian batters could resist in front of the Pakistan batters as the visitors’ innings quickly unraveled.
They slumped to 54-5 and 98-8 to all out in 15.4 overs. Cameron Green once again ended as top scorer, with 35 from 20, striking two sixes and a boundary.
For Pakistan, it was an all-round bowling effort, but Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed stood out with three wickets to their name. Usman Tariq, who played his match of the series, took two, whereas Mohammad Nawaz and Saim Ayub picked one each.
Earlier, after opting to bat first, Pakistan racked up 198 for five in 20 overs.
After losing Sahibaza Farhan early, it was once again Salman Ali Agha show who controlled the innings with a sublime knock.
The right-hander paired with Saim Ayub for 55 run partnership on the second wicket.
Saim made 23 from 11 with the help of four boundaries.
Australia made a comeback as the Green Shirts lost back-to-back wickets in a span of two overs. First it was Saim, who departed after being given out lbw. The second one was Babar, who could only manage 2.
As a result, Pakistan were reduced to 76-3 in 7.1 overs.
But Agha continued and reached his half-century in the process. He was involved in another stand of 49 runs with Usman Khan, who scored a crucial half-century.
Agha eventually departed for a well-made 76 off just 40 balls, smashing four sixes and eight fours.
Meanwhile, Usman made 53 from 36, hitting two sixes and four boundaries to propel Pakistan to a winning total.
For Australia, Adam Zampa remained the pick of the bowlers as he picked up one wicket. Besides Matthew Short, all five other bowlers took one wicket each.
The third T20I will be played tomorrow at the same venue.
Playing XIs
Australia
Mitchell Marsh (c), Matthew Short, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Xavier Bartlett, Sean Abbott, Matthew Kuhnemann, and Adam Zampa.
Pakistan
Salman Ali Agha (c), Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Tariq, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
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