LAHORE: Sparkling half-centuries by captain Salman Ali Agha and Usman Khan, and a fine all-round performance by Shadab Khan, gave Pakistan a 90-run victory over Australia in the second T20I. The win helped them take an unassailable 2-0 lead at the Gaddafi Stadium on Saturday.

Salman Ali Agha scored 76 and Usman 53, lifting Pakistan to 198 for five. Shadab Khan, who had contributed 28 not out with the bat, collected three wickets as Pakistan spinners bagged all 10 Australian wickets, spinning the tourists out for 108 in 15.4 overs.

Pakistan had won the first T20I on Thursday by 22 runs. Today’s victory marks their first T20I series win against Australia since October 2018. Both sides have now won five T20I series apiece.

Electing to bat first, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha dominated the first 13 overs, helping his side reach 125 for four. Usman Khan spearheaded the lower-order charge, as the home side added 73 runs in the last seven overs to post a total of 198 for five.

Salman’s 76 came off 40 balls and included eight fours and four sixes. He added 55 runs for the second wicket from 25 balls with Saim Ayub, who scored 23 from 11 balls with four fours. Salman then put on 49 runs from 34 balls with Usman Khan for the fourth wicket. Usman was in equally dazzling form, slapping four fours and two sixes in a 36-ball 53.

Following Salman’s departure, Usman Khan found a trusted ally in Shadab Khan. The two batters maintained the scoring rate by putting on 63 runs from 39 balls for the fifth wicket. Shadab’s contribution in this stand was 28 not out from 20 balls, featuring one six and two fours.

Australia captain Mitchell Marsh led the initial run-chase, hitting a six and two fours in a 14-ball 18. However, after Saim Ayub removed Travis Head and Abrar Ahmed accounted for Marsh to reduce Australia to 22-2 from 22-0, the tourists’ batting capitulated. The lineup was sent packing for 108 in 15.4 overs against a relentless spin attack.

Abrar finished with figures of three for 14, while Shadab Khan followed up his batting performance with three for 26. Usman Tariq accounted for Australia’s top scorer, Cameron Green (35 off 20 balls; 1×4, 2×6), and Matthew Kuhnemann, conceding 16 runs in 2.4 overs. Saim and Mohammad Nawaz picked up the remaining two wickets.

The third and final T20I will be played on Sunday at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Match 2 – Pakistan beat Australia by 90 runs

Pakistan 198-5, 20 overs (Salman Ali Agha 76, Usman Khan 53, Shadab Khan 28 not out, Saim Ayub 23)

Australia 108 all-out, 15.4 overs (Cameron Green 35, Matthew Short 27; Abrar Ahmed 3-14, Shadab Khan 3-26, Usman Tariq 2-16)

Player of the match – Salman Ali Agha