Pakistan defeated Australia by 90 runs in the second T20 tour match in Lahore to seal the three-match T20 series 2-0.

Captain Salman Ali Agha hit his highest score in the shortest format as Pakistan spinners defeated Australia by 90 runs in the second Twenty20 International in Lahore on Saturday.

Agha scored a 40-ball 76 and Usman Khan scored a 36-ball 53 as Pakistan won 198-5, their highest ever T20I total against Australia.

That was enough for Pakistan’s spin quintet, who shared all 10 wickets, with Abrar Ahmed taking 3-14 and Shadab Khan taking 3-26.

Australia’s 108-run defeat in 15.4 overs gave Pakistan their biggest win against Australia in T20Is, surpassing their 66-run win in Abu Dhabi in 2018.

“It has to be a perfect game,” Aga said. “We hit the ball well and ran the ball well. The defense was great.”

On Friday, also in Lahore, Pakistan won the first match by 22 runs, a victory that gave Pakistan an unbeatable 2-0 lead.

“We want to play in the same way, forget about the 2-0 scoreline, come again with the same intensity, go to the World Cup with the same energy,” Agha said of the tournament which starts on February 7 in India and Sri Lanka.

This was Pakistan’s first win against Australia in a T20I series since 2018. The final will be held in Lahore on Sunday.

The visitors’ batsmen had little response to Pakistan’s spin attack, despite skipper Mitchell Marsh’s return after rest on Friday.

Ahmed dismissed Marsh for 18, Josh Inglis for 5 and Matthew Short for 27.

Cameron Green hit a top score of 35 off 20 balls before spinner Usman Tariq took the score to 2-16.

Marsh admitted that Pakistan was better.

“Pakistan beat us,” Marsh said. “Hopefully we can improve and come back tomorrow. They put a lot of pressure on us batting-wise; it could have been a 160-170 wicket, so they scored a lot.”

Earlier, Aga and Usman led Pakistan to a fighting total after winning the toss and batting.

Agha set up the innings with a 55-run stand for the second wicket with Saim Ayub (11 balls 23) as Pakistan scored 72 runs in the powerplay.

Agha’s previous highest score in all T20 cricket was 68 not out.

After Babar Azam’s five-ball two failed, Usman helped Agha score another quick 49 for the fourth wicket before Sean Abbott burst into the stands.

Aga hit four sixes and eight fours in his sixth ‘twenty’ half-century.

Pakistan scored a decent 61 runs in the last five overs, with Usman knocking two sixes and four fours in his second T20I half-century, while Shadab’s knock of two sixes and a four.

Usman Shadab scored 63 runs in just 39 balls for the fifth wicket stand.

Shadab ended the match with an unbeaten knock of 28 off 20 balls.

Pacer Xavier Bartlett and spinner Matthew Kuhnemann were costly, conceding 92 runs in eight overs.