Pakistan showcased a strong all-round performance, defeating Australia by 90 runs in the second T20I at Gaddafi Stadium. After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Pakistan set a challenging total before their bowlers dominated the Australian batting line-up.
Salman Agha shines in Pakistan’s batting
Pakistan scored 198 runs for 5 wickets, primarily due to a remarkable innings from Salman Agha, who scored 76 runs off 40 balls. His innings included eight fours and four sixes, stabilizing the middle order after an early wobble. Saim Ayub provided a quick start with 23 runs off 11 balls, while Usman Khan supported well with a steady 53 off 36 balls.
Shadab Khan contributed a quick 28 runs off 20 balls, and Mohammad Nawaz added nine in the final overs, helping Pakistan finish strong. Australia managed to take wickets regularly through Xavier Bartlett, Matthew Kuhnemann, Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, and Adam Zampa, but struggled to control the runs on a good batting pitch.
Australia falls short in chase
In their chase of 199 runs, Australia struggled and was bowled out for 108 in just 15.4 overs. Cameron Green provided some resistance with 35 runs off 20 balls, while Matthew Short added 27 runs. Mitchell Marsh tried to start strong, hitting two sixes in his 18, but the team lacked the necessary partnerships.
Bowlers secure convincing win
Pakistan’s bowlers maintained constant pressure, combining pace and spin effectively. Abrar Ahmed stood out with impressive figures of 3 for 14, while Shadab Khan also took three wickets. Usman Tariq secured two key scalps, and Mohammad Nawaz consistently kept Australia on the back foot throughout the innings.
The Australian batsmen could not tackle Pakistan’s varied bowling strategy, resulting in quick wickets and an increasing required run rate. Despite some aggressive shots, Australia lost control of the game, leading to a crushing 90-run defeat that highlighted Pakistan’s strength at home.
