AUS vs PAK, 2nd T20I: Steve Smith's Unbeaten 80 Leads Australia To 7-Wicket Win Vs Pakistan

Thanks to 'Mr. dependable' Smith, Australia won the second T20I vs Pakistan by 7 wickets with 9 balls to spare at Manuka Oval, Canberra

After being denied a win by rain in Sydney, formidable Australia got back to winning ways as their linchpin batsman Steven Smith's unbeaten (80 off 51 balls) knock powered Australia to victory and a series lead vs Pakistan. Thanks to 'Mr. dependable' Smith, Australia won the second T20I vs Pakistan by 7 wickets with 9 balls to spare at Manuka Oval, Canberra, Australia.

Chasing a decent target of 150/6, hard hitter opener David Warner was off to a flying start but was clean bowled by Mohammad Amir for 20 as Australia lost their first wicket. Amir did what Sri Lanka couldn't - he dismisses fiery opener Warner who averages 239 in T20Is to date this summer.

Another Aussie opener and skipper Finch, who smashed Mohammad Irfan for 26 off an over in the first game, got caught out for 17 off the same bowler by giving a steepling catch to mid-off.

Despite getting early wickets, Pakistan failed to stop Australia get a boundary or two each over and Smith, in between, harvesting singles. Such a beautiful display of game by the hosts made the target melt away easily.

Continuing his fiery form Ashes 2019, Steve Smith scored his fifty off just 36 balls - his half-ton consisted of six fours and a six.

This shot was pretty outrageous - Steve Smith seriously just makes it up as he goes! @alintaenergy | #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/aMu4hEbIZl

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 5, 2019

How?!?#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/yYINNqbyRl

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 5, 2019

Masterful! 🔥#AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/K9qs9TK2hL

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 5, 2019

That was a fair way outside off, too!

Watch #AUSvPAK on @kayosports: https://t.co/sCa9TQ2eRB pic.twitter.com/PS9gWvcmzV — cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 5, 2019

In the last few overs, Pakistan bowlers bowled some good deliveries to get a breakthrough but Smith brought it down to a run a ball required to chase the visitor's decent total.

Finally, Smith powered Australia to a 7-wicket victory and a series lead vs Pakistan.

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first in Canberra. Iftikhar Ahmed's unbeaten 34-ball 62 and skipper Babar Azam's half-century powered Pakistan to 150/6 against Aussies.Skipper Babar's 50 off 38 balls included six boundaries.

Squads:

AUS XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steve Smith, Ben McDermott, Ashton Turner, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Patrick Cummins, Mitch Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa

PAK XI: Babar Azam (c), Fakhar Zaman, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Rizwan, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan