Pakistan wins second Australia T20I by 90-run margin
PHOTO: EXPRESS
Pakistan won by 90 runs in the second T20 International of the three-match series against Australia on Saturday, which is being played as part of preparations for next month’s T20 World Cup.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Pakistan posted a competitive total of 198 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs. Captain Agha Salman led from the front with a commanding innings, scoring 76 runs off 40 balls. His knock included four sixes and four boundaries and provided the backbone of Pakistan’s batting effort.
Usman Khan offered solid support with a well-paced half-century, making 53 off 36 deliveries. Contributions also came from Saim Ayub, who scored 23 runs, and Shadab Khan, who added 28,
Australia subsequently could only manage 108 runs in 15.4 overs.
SERIES CLINCHED 💪
Pakistan register their biggest T20I win over Australia ✨#PAKvAUS | #MateWeAreReady | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/osfmkpMiVnEarlier, both sides made multiple changes to their playing XIs, with Pakistan bringing in Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq in place of Fakhar Zaman, Shaheen Afridi and Salman Mirza.
Three changes to Pakistan's playing XI for today's match 🇵🇰🏏
📺 Watch live in the UK region, sign up now at https://t.co/Z0RXSR7gYM#PAKvAUS | #MateWeAreReady | #BackTheBoysInGreen pic.twitter.com/g8var8wYIUAustralia made four changes to their side, including the inclusion of captain Mitchell Marsh, along with Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott and Matthew Kuhnemann.
The match forms part of the ongoing T20 series between the two teams.
Read: Ayub star in Pak T20 win over Australia
In the first T20I, all-rounder Saim Ayub starred in Pakistan's spin-assisted 22-run win over Australia.
Ayub top-scored in Pakistan's 168-8 with a 22-ball 40 that included two sixes and three fours, while Salman Agha added four sixes and a four in his 27-ball 39.
The tourists managed 146-8 in their 20 overs, with spinners taking six wickets for Pakistan.
With the ball, Ayub dismissed Australian openers Matthew Short (five) and Travis Head, who hit two sixes and two fours in his 13-ball 23.
Cameroon Green resisted with a 31-ball 36 but Australia succumbed to spin with Abrar Ahmed taking 2-10 while Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan took a wicket apiece.
Both teams are tuning up for the Twenty20 World Cup starting in India and Sri Lanka from February 7.
Playing XI
Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha (c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan (wk), Shadab Khan, Muhammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Naseem Shah, Usman Tariq, Abrar Ahmed
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Matthew Short, Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott