LIVE Pak vs Aus Clash: Thrilling Wickets, Record Chase & Real-Time Score Updates

Lahore, 31 January 2026 — Pakistan and Australia renew their rivalry tonight in the 2nd T20I at Gaddafi Stadium as both sides fine-tune plans for this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Pakistan lead the three-match series 1-0 after a commanding 22-run victory two nights ago, a performance powered by Saim Ayub’s sparkling all-round display and Salman Ali Agha’s brisk 39. Skipper Agha has again won the selection debate, retaining an unchanged XI that features the same triple-spin threat of Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz and the ever-improving mystery tweaker Abrar Ahmed. Key match facts • Toss: Salman Agha called correctly and chose to bat, banking on a dry Lahore surface that traditionally slows under lights. • Series standing: Pakistan 1-0 Australia after the first T20I on 29 January. • Timings: Day-night clash begins 4 pm local (11 am UTC); expected dew may quicken the outfield in the chase. • World-Cup lens: Both camps are treating this as a dress rehearsal for spin-friendly Sri Lankan venues in June. Players to watch • Saim Ayub – the 23-year-old left-hander’s 45 (32) and 2-25 rattled Australia in the opener. Another cameo could cement his World Cup opening berth. • Babar Azam – Pakistan’s batting linchpin is searching for fluency after a lean run; a strike-rate boost tonight would silence critics. • Travis Head – fresh off a scintillating BBL, the Aussie stand-in opener must attack the new ball to keep Pakistan’s tweakers at bay. • Adam Zampa – pocketed 2-18 on Sunday; his duel with Ayub and Babar will shape the middle overs. Pitch & conditions A par score of 170 has been the norm in recent Lahore T20s. Expect a tacky first six overs before the surface eases; captains prioritise wickets in the powerplay to stall acceleration later. Dew probability after 7 pm is high, making the defending total tricky. Head-to-head snapshot The last five T20Is read: AUS W, AUS W, AUS W, AUS W, PAK W, with Pakistan snapping a six-match drought in the opener. Overall, Australia still lead 13-12, underscoring tonight’s stakes for parity. What a Pakistan win means • First home T20I series triumph over Australia in 14 years. • Momentum surge ahead of the tri-nation series with South Africa and New Zealand next month. • Confidence booster for Babar’s strike-rate narrative. What an Australia fightback means • Sets up a Lahore decider on 2 February. • Validates Mitchell Marsh’s experimental middle-order shuffle. • Eases spin-worry headlines before World Cup group matches in Colombo. Live coverage & streaming Ball-by-ball commentary, live scorecard and video highlights are available on ESPNcricinfo and the PCB’s official YouTube feed. SEO keywords: PAK vs AUS 2nd T20I live score, Pakistan vs Australia today match, PAK vs AUS 2026 series, Lahore T20 live, Pakistan Australia T20 World Cup prep. With the series on the line and World Cup auditions in full swing, expect another high-octane PAK vs AUS showdown under the Lahore lights.