World Cup-bound Australia has been well beaten in Lahore, undone by Pakistan’s spinners as it crumbled to a whopping 90-run defeat and a T20I series capitulation
Just hours after the squad for the World Cup in India and Sri Lanka was announced, Mitch Marsh’s side, featuring nine of the Cup crew and looking badly in need of its absent big guns, simply couldn’t cope with the hosts’ five-pronged spin armoury.
Losing the three-match series after just the second game was hardly the way Marsh would have wanted them to warm up for the tournament, which starts for the Aussies against Ireland in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo in 11 days’ time.
“Pakistan outplayed us. Hopefully we can improve and come back tomorrow,” Marsh said, while also suggesting his side had learned valuable lessons.
Australia was bowled out for just 108 in just the 16th over, with all 10 wickets falling to spin, in pursuit of Pakistan’s 5-198.
SuperSport Logo
Pakistan seal series after Australia fail trial by spin
© Reuters
Pakistan seal series after Australia fail trial by spin
cricket
|
31 January 2026 at 15:35
Pakistan grabbed an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Twenty20 series against Australia after skipper Salman Agha led by example to secure their comprehensive 90-run victory in the second match in Lahore on Saturday.
Electing to bat, Pakistan amassed 198-5 after Salman (76) and Usman Khan (53) produced breezy half-centuries.
The hosts then unleashed five spinners, who strangled the Australian batters, eventually bowling them out for 108 inside 16 overs.
Australia arrived without several frontline players but losing all 10 wickets to the spinners will be a reality check for them ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup to be played in similar conditions in India and Sri Lanka.
Earlier, Matthew Kuhnemann dismissed Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan in the second over but Salman and Saim Ayub (23) steadied the innings.
Babar Azam’s lean run continued when he fell to Adam Zampa for the second time in the series but Usman combined with Salman to prevent any batting collapse.
Shadab Khan contributed an unbeaten 28 down the order to take Pakistan close to the 200 mark.
Australia wobbled early in their reply, slumping to 29-3 in the fifth over after losing skipper Mitchell Marsh, fellow opener Travis Head and the dangerous Josh Inglis in quick succession.
Matt Renshaw, included in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad earlier on Saturday, managed two as the tourists laboured to 71-5 at the halfway stage of their innings.
Matt Short, who was dropped from the World Cup squad to accommodate Renshaw, made a defiant 27.
Australia’s hopes hinged entirely on Cameron Green (35), who found a way to negate Pakistan’s spinners before falling to one of them, Usman Tariq, in the 11th over, slicing the ball to Shadab (3-26) at point
Grow your report
