Pakistan beat Australia to seal cricket series in T20 World Cup warm-up

Pakistan thump Australia by 90 runs in Lahore in second T20 of tour to seal three-match T20 series 2-0.Published On 31 Jan 2026Skipper Salman Ali Agha hit his highest score in the shortest format before Pakistan’s spinners routed Australia by 90 runs in the second Twenty20 International in Lahore on Saturday.Agha hit a 40-ball 76 and Usman Khan smashed a 36-ball 53 as Pakistan made 198-5, their highest-ever T20I total against Australia.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4German football federation rules out World Cup boycott to oppose Trumplist 2 of 4History-chasing Djokovic and Alcaraz meet in Australian Open 2026 finallist 3 of 4Officials defend conditions at pre-Olympic race after Vonn crashlist 4 of 4Why have rapper Ghali’s Israel comments led to Winter Olympics criticism?end of listThis was enough for Pakistan’s spin quintet, who shared all 10 wickets between them with Abrar Ahmed returning the best figures of 3-14 and Shadab Khan finishing with 3-26.Australia were routed for 108 in 15.4 overs, giving Pakistan their biggest T20I victory over Australia, eclipsing the 66-run win in Abu Dhabi in 2018.“It has to be a perfect game,” said Agha. “We batted well and then were outstanding with the ball. Fielding was outstanding.”The victory gives Pakistan an unbeatable 2-0 lead after they won the first match by 22 runs, also in Lahore, on Friday.“We want to play in the same way, forget the 2-0 scoreline and come again with the same intensity and go to the World Cup with the same energy,” said Agha of the event starting in India and Sri Lanka from February 7.This is Pakistan’s first T20I series win over Australia since 2018. The final match is on Sunday, also in Lahore.Despite skipper Mitchell Marsh coming back after resting on Friday, the visiting batters had little answer to Pakistan’s spin assault.Ahmed dismissed Marsh for 18, Josh Inglis for five and Matthew Short for 27.Cameron Green top-scored with a 20-ball 35 before spinner Usman Tariq dismissed him on his way to figures of 2-16.