Australia Clinch T20I Series with 13-Run Victory Over Pakistan

Spencer Johnson’s five-wicket masterclass halts Pakistan’s chase of 148 in the second T20I at Sydney Cricket Ground.

Australia sealed the T20I series 2-0 against Pakistan with a hard-fought 13-run victory in the second match on Saturday at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Pakistan’s Run Chase Falters

Chasing 148, Pakistan struggled to find momentum, folding for 134 in the final over.

The innings began poorly as openers Babar Azam (3) and Sahibzada Farhan (5) fell within the first three overs, leaving the visitors at 17/2.

Skipper Mohammad Rizwan (16 off 26) partnered with Usman Khan in an attempt to stabilize the innings.

The pair added 27 runs before Spencer Johnson’s fiery spell struck twice in the 10th over, removing Rizwan and Salman Ali Agha (0) to leave Pakistan teetering at 44/4.

Usman Khan (52 off 38) and Muhammad Irfan Khan (37* off 28) formed a crucial 58-run stand that briefly revived Pakistan’s hopes.

However, Usman’s dismissal triggered a collapse, with Pakistan losing quick wickets and falling short of the target despite Irfan’s valiant effort.

Australia’s Bowling Brilliance

Spencer Johnson led the Australian attack with a superb five-wicket haul, backed by Adam Zampa, who claimed two scalps. Their disciplined bowling ensured Pakistan never fully recovered.

Australia’s Innings: A Mixed Bag

Earlier, Australia opted to bat first, with openers Jake Fraser-McGurk (20 off 9) and Matt Short (32 off 17) giving their team a blistering start, racing to 48 runs in just three overs.

Haris Rauf turned the tide for Pakistan, dismissing Fraser-McGurk and captain Josh Inglis (0) in quick succession.

Abbas Afridi further dented the hosts by removing Short, leaving Australia at 56/3 after five overs.

The middle order, led by Glenn Maxwell (21) and Marcus Stoinis (14), attempted to rebuild, but Sufiyan Muqeem’s twin strikes and Haris Rauf’s brilliant 4/22 ensured Australia couldn’t post a daunting total.

Abbas Afridi also shone, taking 3/17, including two wickets in the final over, restricting Australia to 147/9.

Series Summary

The third and final T20I will take place in Hobart on Monday. Pakistan had earlier secured the ODI series 2-1 but struggled in the shorter format, losing the rain-affected first T20I by 29 runs.