Abrar Ahmed, Shadab dismantle Australia after Salman Agha, Usman Khan blitz in 2nd T20I

Pakistan clinch series with a big win in 2nd T20I [Source: AFP]

Pakistan crushed Australia in the second T20I to clinch their three-match series with a game to spare. Agha Salman and Usman Khan came to the fore with the bat, before spinners Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan skitled Australia in the run-chase.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights from the second T20I of the two-match series between Pakistan and Australia, as it panned out at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, January 31.

Salman Agha leads Pakistan’s recovery

Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan failed to get going for the second time in succession this series. After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the hosts lost the right-handed opening batter for just five in the second over to Australian left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann.

Saim Ayub belted three cracking boundaries in his 11-ball top-order cameo of 23 runs to get Pakistan off to a flier in the powerplay. The youngster shared a swift 55-run partnership with captain Salman Agha for the second wicket as Pakistan raced to 72 after the first six overs. However, just inside the powerplay, Ayub had his blistering start curtailed by Cooper Connolly.

Babar Azam at number four got trapped in front of stumps by Adam Zampa for the second time this series as Pakistan slipped from 72-1 to 76-3 in the space of an over. Salman Agha raged on to compile 76 runs off just 40 balls with eight boundaries and four huge sixes, thus top-scoring in the Pakistan innings.

Usman Khan fires Pakistan to 198-5

Salman Agha also crafted a quick 49-run stand with wicketkeeper-batter Usman Khan, who himself blasted 53 off just 36 balls in the backend of the innings. Shadab Khan chipped in with a vital 20-ball 28* to stretch Pakistan’s total to a monumental 198-5 in 20 overs.

For Australia, spinners Matthew Kuhnemann (1-40), Cooper Connolly (1-30) and Adam Zampa (1-27) all picked up a wicket each. Pacemen Xavier Bartlett (1-52) and Sean Abbott (1-33) also struck once in their spells, but conceded 85 runs from their combined seven overs.

Abrar Ahmed and Shadab Khan skittle Australia for just 108

Australian captain and comeback man Mitchell Marsh oozed confidence in his 14-ball 18 at the top of the order before getting trapped plumb in front of stumps by Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed. His belligerent partner Travis Head also followed suite off the very next delivery, albeit against Saim Ayub.

Josh Inglis, Matt Renshaw and Cooper Connolly further failed to lead Australia’s recovery as each of the three middle-order batters were dismissed for single-digit scores by Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz (1-11) and Shadab Khan respectively.

With Australia tottering at 54-5, Cameron Green smeared a crucial 20-ball 35 with a boundary and two sixes to restore stability to the visitor’s innings. Matthew Short also made 27 off 23 balls with one huge six. Another collapse towards the end ensured Australia folded up for just 108 in 15.4 overs to concede a 90-run win and a 2-0 lead to hosts Pakistan.

Abrar Ahmed (3-14) and Shadab Khan (3-26) picked up six wickets between them to anchor their team’s dominant evening.