Lahore: Pakistan produced a commanding all-round performance to dismantle Australia by 90 runs in the second Twenty20 International at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Skipper Salman Agha led the charge with his career-best T20I innings, scoring 76 off 40 balls, while Usman Khan’s explosive 53 from 36 deliveries helped Pakistan post a formidable 198-5, their highest T20I total against Australia. Pakistan’s batting brilliance set the stage for a dominant display by the spin department, which shared all ten Australian wickets. Abrar Ahmed was the star with 3-14, supported by Shadab Khan’s 3-26, as Australia crumbled to 108 in 15.4 overs, eclipsing Pakistan’s previous largest T20I victory over Australia of 66 runs in Abu Dhabi in 2018.
“It has to be a perfect game,” said Agha after the match. “We batted well and then our spinners were outstanding. Fielding was top-notch too.”
The series win also marks Pakistan’s first T20I series triumph over Australia since 2018. Despite the result already secured, the final encounter, scheduled for Sunday in Lahore, promises to be a competitive finish.
Australia’s batsmen struggled to counter Pakistan’s spin onslaught. Skipper Mitchell Marsh, returning after a rest in the first match, was dismissed for 18, while Josh Inglis fell cheaply for five. Matthew Short managed 27 before falling to Abrar, and Cameron Green top-scored with a brisk 35 off 20 balls before Usman Tariq accounted for him, finishing with figures of 2-16.
“Pakistan outplayed us,” admitted Marsh. “They put us under huge pressure. It was probably a 160-170 wicket, but they scored big and dominated us. We hope to come back stronger tomorrow.”
Earlier, Agha and Usman provided the backbone of Pakistan’s innings after winning the toss and opting to bat. Agha forged a second-wicket partnership of 55 runs with Saim Ayub (23 off 11 balls) during the powerplay, while Usman’s aggressive stroke play kept the momentum going. After Babar Azam fell cheaply, Usman added 49 runs for the fourth wicket with Agha, before the stand was broken by Sean Abbott.
Agha’s innings included four sixes and eight fours, marking his sixth T20 half-century, while Usman’s unbeaten 53 featured two sixes and four boundaries. Shadab Khan’s quickfire 28 off 20 balls helped Pakistan accelerate in the death overs, adding 63 runs off 39 balls for the fifth wicket with Usman. Meanwhile, Australian pacer Xavier Bartlett and spinner Matthew Kuhnemann were taken to the cleaners, conceding a combined 92 runs in eight overs.
With the series already in the bag, Pakistan aims to maintain intensity and momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup, starting February 7 in India and Sri Lanka. “We want to play in the same way, forget the 2-0 scoreline, and carry this energy into the World Cup,” said Agha.
The final T20I on Sunday will offer Australia a chance to salvage pride, while Pakistan will look to complete a clean sweep against their traditional rivals, showcasing both their batting firepower and spin dominance.