Key Points
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Pakistan scored 168 for 8 and restricted Australia to 146 for 8.
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Saim Ayub starred with 40 runs and bowling figures of 2 for 29.
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Pakistan lead the three match T20I series 1 to 0.
Pakistan opened their T20I series against Australia with a commanding 22 run victory at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, after posting 168 for 8 in 20 overs and defending the total with disciplined bowling.
Saim Ayub led Pakistan’s batting with a rapid 40 off 22 balls before delivering a match-winning bowling spell of 2 for 29. His all-round performance earned him Player of the Match honors and Cricinfo’s MVP award with 110.01 points.
Australia were set a target of 169 but finished on 146 for 8 despite periods of resistance in the middle overs. Pakistan’s spinners tightened their grip as the pitch slowed, making scoring increasingly difficult for the visitors.
Adam Zampa was Australia’s standout bowler with four wickets, removing key batters including Babar Azam and Usman Khan. Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for 10, while Shadab Khan and Shaheen Shah Afridi both fell in the final over as Pakistan closed their innings strongly.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha said the surface became challenging after the first ten overs but praised his bowling unit for defending the total. He added that the team believed 170 would be enough given the strength of their spin attack.
Australian batter Travis Head said his side felt in the contest at the halfway stage but struggled as conditions changed. He pointed to positives from debutants and the performances of Xavier Bartlett and Adam Zampa despite the defeat.
With the win, Pakistan take a 1 to 0 lead in the three match T20I series. The second match will be played in Lahore on January 31.
Australian Squad
Mitchell Marsh (captain), Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Mahli Beardman, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa.
Pakistan Squad
Salman Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.
