Australia clinch T20I series against Pakistan

Spencer Johnson claimed fifer as Australia clinched T20I series against Pakistan in Sydney on Saturday.

Chasing a modest target of 148 against an inexperienced Aussie lineup, the visitors were bowled out for just 134 in 19.4 overs.

Usman Khan, who scored his maiden half-century, and Irfan Khan Niazi showed some resistance with the bat, but failed to get the team over the line.

Usman smashed 52 off 38, while Niazi remain unbeaten on 37 off 28.

For Australia, Spencer ended up with the figures of 5-26 from his four over spell.

Earlier, a brilliant fightback by pacers especially Haris Rauf and Abbas Afridi as Pakistan restrict Australia to 147-9 in the second T20I in Sydney.

Haris Rauf-led Pakistan’s pace attack made a remarkable comeback after an onslaught from Aussie openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short, who raced to a 48-run stand in just over three overs at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Saturday.

Rauf in his first over, not only removed Fraser-McGurk, but also took the prize wicket of skipper Josh Inglis (0).

Fraser-McGurk scored 20 off just nine deliveries with the help of three fours and a six.

His opening partner Short perished to Abbas Afridi as the home side reduced to 56/3 in five overs.

All-rounders Marcus Stoinis (14) and Glenn Maxwell (21) anchored innings for the Aussies. They were stopped in their track by rookie spinner Sufiyan Muqeem, who removed both batters in his successive overs.

Haris continued to unsettle Australia as the right-arm pacer bagged two more wickets – Tim David (18) and Xavier Bartlett (five) – and ended up with the figures of 4/22 from his four overs.

Abbas bowled an exceptional final over as he conceded only six runs and took two wickets to further dent Australia’s chances of posting a commendable total.

Abbas returned brilliant figures of 3/17 in his four overs spell.

Earlier, the hosts kept an unchanged playing XI, while Sufyan Muqeem replaced Haseebullah for Pakistan for the game.

Teams

Australia (Playing XI): Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis(w/c), Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

Pakistan (Playing XI): Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Rizwan(w/c), Babar Azam, Usman Khan, Agha Salman, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem