AUS VS PAK - 2nd T20I, Pakistan tour of Australia, 2024

So Australia have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the T20I series. The two innings that played out today were in contrast to each other. The hosts smashed as many as 37 in their first two overs before the innings went downhill as Pakistan stormed back through Haris Rauf. Pakistan, on the other hand, took an age to get going. Their first boundary came in the 10th over, by which time they left a lot to do for the likes of Usman Khan and Irfan Khan. Wasn't a straightforward pitch at the SCG and scoring quickly was hard work because of the two-paced nature of it. The teams will now move to Hobart for the final T20I. That's all for now. This is Sagar Chawla signing off on behalf of Siva and Kumar Abhisekh Das. Goodbye!

Inglis | Australia captain: We started really well. Boys at the top got us to a flier. It was tough through the middle as they adapted to conditions really well, bowled cutters and into the wicket. We thought we were there and therabout. I thought the way the bowlers went about it was brilliant. There's so many options in this team I can go to. Everytime I turned to Johnson tonight, he got a pole. Really happy for him. The way they played tonight was really good (the two openers). Put their bowlers under pressure and got us off to a flier. I need to sleep - it's tough work this captaincy. Quick turnaround - we'll get there tomorrow and have a look at the wicket. That drop catch - I was thinking more of the captaincy than the keeping. It's tough. But it's something I'm keen to learn about and hopefully grow.

Rizwan | Pakistan captain: Bowlers bowled really well. But if you drop crucial catches, it will cost you always. We all know Australia is not an easy team, especially in these conditions. We all know pitch wasn't easy to bat. Catches were crucial. Haris loves Australia because of the pace and bounce. Not sure about the changes for the third game. Will see what the situation demands.

Johnson | POTM: It's every kid's dream to play for Australia. It's something I don't take lightly and very privileged to wear the green and gold. Never know when your last game is going to be. Every game is a bonus and hopefully I can play a couple more. It's probably a different bowling unit than we're used to for Australia and hopefully we're doing a good enough job. We used the conditions well. It was summed up early with Bartlett - how he was nipping it around. I didn't get it right in the first over but the communication between us three pacers helped us get over the line.

Adam Zampa: Great night at the SCG. One of the great places to play white-ball cricket in Australia. The atmosphere is one of the best in the country. To win a series out here after a disappointing ODI series feels good. A lot of our games here feels like away games. Pakistan crowd were loud tonight. From watching our batting in the first innings, we saw it started to get funny after the powerplay. Here at the SCG, you can make use of the first couple of overs with the bat and then it gets harder. We saw what they did with the ball and tried to replicate. Probably didn't start the way we wanted to but the way Xavier brought it back, and then Spencer through the middle, it was very impressive. Great to have him fit (Spencer). He bowls fast. Hasn't played a lot of cricket too so the more he plays, will get better. I am known for my funky hairstyles. Good energy in the change rooms. I had my hoodie on for the whole bus ride and then revealed it here. The boys got around it. All good fun. We don't feel like the B team here. You see these guys in the BBL, and everyone says they should be playing more for Australia. And when they do play for Australia, they shouldn't be. Great to have them out there. I wouldn't say they're B cricketers at all.

Stats by Shashikant Singh:

- This is the sixth consecutive win for Australia over Pakistan in T20Is.

Five-wicket haul for Australia in T20Is
6/30 - Ashton Agar vs NZ, Wellington, 2021
5/19 - Adam Zampa vs BAN, Dubai, 2021
5/22 - Matt Short vs ENG, Cardiff, 2024
5/24 - Ashton Agar vs SA, Johannesburg, 2020
5/26 - Spencer Johnson vs PAK, Sydney, 2024*
5/27 - James Faulkner vs PAK, Mohali, 2016

Five-wicket haul against Pakistan in T20Is
5/17 - Dwaine Pretorius (SA), Lahore, 2021
5/18 - Tim Southee (NZ), Auckland, 2010
5/26 - Spencer Johnson (AUS), Sydney, 2024*
5/27 - James Faulkner (AUS), Mohali, 2016

Lowest targets successfully defended by Australia
128 vs PAK, Melbourne, 2010
142 vs BAN, Bridgetown, 2010
148 vs ENG, Melbourne, 2011
148 vs PAK, Sydney, 2024*

Most PAK batters scored ducks in an innings
4 vs South Africa, Dubai, 2013
4 vs Australia, Sydney, 2024*

22:49 Local Time, 11:49 GMT, 17:19 IST: Australia take the series with a game to spare. The target was only 148 tonight, but it was a big struggle for Pakistan on a two-paced pitch in Sydney. It took them until the 10th over to get their first boundary, meaning that the required rate had climbed over 10 at the halfway stage. What followed was a really good effort from Usman Khan who brought up his first T20I fifty. Irfan Khan then took over after his dismissal with some good hits. But their combined efforts weren't enough. Spencer Johnson was brilliant this evening with a five-wicket haul as he hit the pitch hard and made the most of the variable nature of it.

Nathan Ellis to Irfan Khan, out Haris Rauf Run Out!! 1 run completed. One of the batters has been run out. Australia win. Full toss outside off, Irfan advances to slog but mistimes it to David at long-on. He has to come back for the second but David is too sharp with his pick-up and throw, and Inglis does the rest with none of the batters in the frame. Haris Rauf run out (Tim David/Josh Inglis) 2(3)

Nathan Ellis to Irfan Khan, THATS OUT!! Run Out!!

One of the batters has been run out. Australia win.

Nathan Ellis to Irfan Khan, no run, goes too early for a premeditated scoop and Ellis sees him move. Bowls it full and wide outside off, following the batter and Irfan can only help it to deep backward square. Again a dot ball with Irfan turning down the single

Nathan Ellis to Irfan Khan, no run, excellent from Ellis. 130.4kph, nails the yorker outside off and Irfan squeezes it to long-off. Turns down the single

Nathan Ellis to Haris Rauf, 1 run, back of a length outside off, slower one, Rauf pokes at it and gets an outside edge that rolls away past the keeper. The second run is on if they want it but Irfan turns it down

Ellis to bowl the final over. Hasn't been his best day with the ball but he has 16 in the bank and Rauf is on strike. Will back himself. Mid-off is in the ring

Stoinis to Irfan Khan, FOUR, he gets the boundary! Full delivery on middle, Irfan flicks it beautifully and it races away to the square leg boundary. So Rauf will be on strike in the final over