Salman Ali Agha, spinners help Pakistan win series against Australia

By Alam Zeb Safi
LAHORE: Skipper Salman Ali Agha and Usman Khan hit fine fifties while spinners Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmad took three wickets each as Pakistan demolished Australia by 90 runs to secure a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match T20 International series here at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Saturday.
This is Australia’s biggest T20I loss since 2005 and second biggest overall and Pakistan’s largest victory over Aussies.
Salman hit an explosive 40-ball 76 while Usman Khan smashed a 36-ball 53 as Pakistan posted 198-5 in the allotted 20 overs. This is also Pakistan’s highest total against Australia.
Shadab and Abrar then did a marvellous job and they skittled Australia out for 108 in the 16th over.
The win helped Pakistan take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with the third and final game to be held on Sunday (tomorrow). Pakistan had won the first game by 22 runs the other day.
Pakistan’s innings was full of a few solid contributions with Salman being exceptional at a time when T20 World Cup is just a few days away.
Salman was seen in his fine element and he started with a bang. He was seen ruthless with the bat in the powerplay. Salman hit Kuhnemann for a glorious six and two fours in the fourth over of the innings which yielded 18 runs.
And in the fifth over after Saim Ayub hit Sean Abbott for a four, Salman hammered the same pacer for a six and a four in the same over which produced 16 runs.
In the 11th over Salman hammered Bartlett for three glorious fours and the over yielded 16 runs.
Pakistan reached 72-2 in the powerplay and it was the same thing which helped the team latter on in the innings.
After losing Sahibzada Farhan early Salman added 55 runs for the second wicket with Saim Ayub. It was left-arm spinner Cooper Connolly who broke the partnership by removing Saim Ayub, trapped lbw. Saim smashed four fours in his 11-ball 23.
Babar Azam joined Salman but the former Pakistan captain once again failed to leave a big impression and was trapped lbw off Adam Zampa for just two and Pakistan were 76-3 in the eighth over.
It was a delivery that pitched on the right area, Babar wanted to flick it but failed and it hit him right in front of the wicket.
Usman Khan then joined Salman and both added 49 quick runs for the fourth wicket partnership to boost the total. However, next went Agha Salman himself who was undone by Sean Abbott in the 13th over when he wanted to slice it over the keeper’s head with a flat bat, but failed and stumper Josh Inglis took an easy catch behind the stumps. Salman, who brought in his ninth fifty of his career, hit four sixes and eight fours in his 40-ball smart knock.
At this stage Shadab Khan joined Usman Khan and both batted extremely well, sharing another 63 runs for the fifth wicket association to take Pakistan to a good total in the end.
Usman Khan, who brought in his second fifty of his career off 34 balls, was extremely impressive. Usman, who also serves as stumper, smashed two sixes and four fours in his 36-ball 53. He was removed by Xavier Bartlett, held by Matthew Short.
Shadab Khan remained not out on 28 off 20 balls which featured two sixes and one four. Mohammad Nawaz also hit three-ball nine not out, hitting two fours.
Earlier after winning another toss Salman Ali Agha opted to bat first. Pakistan had a shaky start again.
Left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhlemann provided an early breakthrough to Australia when he had Sahibzada Farhan. Farhan went for a reverse sweep and gloved it to keeper Josh Inglis. Farhan hit one four in his run-a-ball five.
Xavier Bartlett (1-52), Matthew Kuhnamen (1-40), Cooper Connoly (1-30), Sean Abbott (1-33), and Zampa (1-27) took one wicket apiece.
Pakistan were 72-2 in the powerplay and were 96-3 in ten overs. They reached 139-4 in 15 overs and in the last five overs they brought in 59 runs in the last five overs.
Australia had a disappointing response. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were folded for 108.
Skipper Mitchell Marsh was in fine mood but was trapped lbw off spinner Abrar Ahmad after scoring a 14-ball 18, featuring two sixes and one four.
In the next over Saim Ayub removed Travis Head (4) before Abrar got rid of Josh Inglis (5) to leave Australia reeling at 29-3 in the fifth over.
Mohammad Nawaz then had Matt Renshaw (2) before Shadab Khan sending Cooper Connolly (1) back and the visitors were gasping at 54-5.
Cameron Green, who like the previous game, tried to resist but could not go deep and was removed by spinner Usman Tariq for a 20-ball 35. Green smashed two sixes and one four.
Shadab Khan then had Xavier Bartlett (10) and Sean Abbott (0) off two successive deliveries to leave Australia tottering at 104-9 in the 14th over.
Usman Tariq then got rid of Matthew Kuhnemann (2) to fold Australia for 108 in the 16th over.
Abrar Ahmad (3-14 in 3) and Shadab Khan (3-26 in 4) were the top performers with the leather. Usman Tariq claimed 2-16.
Agha Salman was adjudged as man of the match for his glorious knock.
Earlier Pakistan made three changes to the side which played the first game by resting Salman Mirza, Fakhar Zaman and Shaheen Afridi and bringing in Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf and Usman Tariq.
Australia made four changes. They brought in skipper Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann and Sean Abbott by resting Josh Phillipe, Mitchell Owen, Jack Edwards and Mahli Beardman.

Summarised score:
Pakistan 198-5 (20 overs)
Salman Ali Agha 76 (40), Usman Khan 53 (36)
Bartlett (1-52), Kuhnemann (1-40)
Australia 108 all out (15.4 overs)
Cameron Green 35 (20)
Abrar Ahmad 3-14, Shadab Khan 3-26
Pakistan won by 90 runs
Series: Pakistan lead 2-0 (3 matches)