New Delhi: Pakistan have registered their highest T20I total in the second match against Australia at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Saturday, January 31. Captain Salman Agha and Usman Khan smashed half-centuries as the hosts posted 198/5 in 20 overs. Pakistan are leading the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first T20I by 22 runs.
Pakistan got off to a poor start after opting to bat first as Matthew Kuhnemann dismissed Sahibzada Farhan for five runs in the second over. After his dismissal, Ayub and Agha played attacking shots and forged a 55-run partnership for the second wicket.
Cooper Connolly trapped Ayub lbw for 23 runs, while Adam Zampa removed Babar Azam for 2, but Agha continued the momentum to put the pressure back on the visitors. The skipper completed his sixth T20I fifty in 25 balls as Pakistan looked all set to set a big target.
He stitched another crucial 49-run partnership with Usman Khan for the fourth wicket. He scored 76 runs off 40 balls with the help of eight boundaries and four maximums before Sean Abbott removed him in the 13th over.
After his dismissal, Usman, who was 20 off 20 at one stage, changed gears and hit a 35-ball fifty. Shadab Khan also played a good cameo, scoring an unbeaten 28 runs off 20 balls as Pakistan set a 199-run target for the visitors.
Highest T20I totals for Pakistan against Australia
198/5 – PAK vs AUS in Lahore (2026)
194/7 – PAK vs AUS in Harare (2018)
191/6 – PAK vs AUS in St Lucia (2010)
191/5 – PAK vs AUS in Mirpur (2014)
(more to follow)