Umar Akmal struck a career-best 94 Sunday as Pakistan defeated Australia by 16 runs in a high-scoring game at the World Twenty20.

Put in to bat by Australia, Pakistan scored an intimidating 191-5 and then dismissed Australia for 175 in 20 overs.

Umar Akmal struck nine fours and four sixes during his sixth half-century. He shared a 96-run third-wicket stand with older brother Kamran Akmal, who scored a run-a-ball 31.

The 23-year-old batting star termed the knock as his "best" yet.

“It is the best knock of my career because the kind of stress our team was under after losing the first match, for us it was important to win this match,” Umar said.

“The kind of free hand the management gave me to go out and express my abilities, I am thankful to them for that. I played my natural game and I was rewarded with a good score. We are taking it match to match. Our aim is to win every match we play. We lost the first match but our morale was kept high by the management.”

Umar also credited Pakistan's bowlers for the rousing win.

“As a batting unit, we deserve a little bit of praise but it is the bowlers who did the job.”