Australia’s bowlers, led by Spencer Johnson’s five-wicket haul, put in a dominant performance to secure a series victory over Pakistan in the second T20I match.
Johnson’s devastating spell of 5/26 saw him claim the first five wickets of Pakistan’s innings, reducing them to 29/5. The visitors never recovered from this early setback, eventually being bowled out for a paltry 134.
Usman Khan’s half-century (52 off 38) was a lone bright spot for Pakistan, but the rest of the batting lineup failed to provide any meaningful resistance.
Earlier, Australia had posted a modest total of 147, with Matthew Short top-scoring with 32. Haris Rauf was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, taking 4/32.
The victory gives Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with one match remaining. It also marks the first series defeat for Mohammad Rizwan as Pakistan’s new white-ball captain.
Johnson’s performance was particularly impressive, as he became the first Australian bowler to take a five-wicket haul in a T20I match against Pakistan. His wickets included the dangerous Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who had scored centuries in the first T20I.
Australia’s victory was a testament to their bowling strength, which has been a key factor in their recent success in the shortest format. They will be looking to complete a clean sweep of the series in the third and final T20I on Friday.
