Pakistan Outclass Australia by 22 Runs in First T20I
LAHORE: An all-round display from Saim Ayub, combining an explosive 40 with two crucial wickets, powered Pakistan to a 22-run victory over Australia in the opening T20I of the three-match series at Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a target of 169, Australia never quite found momentum and finished on 146 for 8 at the end of their 20 overs.
The visitors began brightly, with Matthew Short and stand-in skipper Travis Head scoring freely early on, but Ayub struck in the third over to remove Short, who managed just five runs. Ayub returned immediately to deal another blow, dismissing Head for a brisk 23 off 13 balls that included two fours and two sixes.
Cameron Green then tried to steady the innings alongside Matt Renshaw, and the pair added 40 runs for the third wicket. That stand ended when Renshaw was run out at the start of the eighth over, triggering a dramatic collapse.
Australia’s batting unraveled soon after, losing wickets in quick succession. Green top-scored with a patient 36 from 31 deliveries, but his dismissal left the tourists struggling at 112 for 8 in the 16th over.
Lower-order batter Xavier Bartlett provided some late resistance, remaining unbeaten on 34 from 25 balls, though his effort came too late to threaten Pakistan’s grip on the match.
Pakistan’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Ayub and Abrar Ahmed taking two wickets each, while Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz picked up one apiece.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opted to bat first, a call that ultimately paid off as the hosts posted 168 for 8.
The innings got off to a disastrous start when opener Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed without scoring. Ayub and Agha then rebuilt calmly, adding 74 runs for the second wicket to put Pakistan back on track.
The partnership was broken by Adam Zampa in the eighth over as Ayub departed after a fluent 40 off 22 balls, striking three fours and two sixes. Agha continued to anchor the innings and added a short stand with Babar Azam before falling for 39 off 27 balls, an innings highlighted by four sixes and a boundary.
Babar and Fakhar Zaman cautiously added 37 runs for the fourth wicket before Zampa struck again to remove Babar for 24. Pakistan then stumbled late in the innings, losing Fakhar Zaman and Usman Khan cheaply to slide to 149 for 6 in the 18th over.
Mohammad Nawaz contributed valuable late runs, finishing unbeaten on 15 from 14 deliveries, but Pakistan’s death overs remained subdued as two more wickets fell.
For Australia, Zampa was the standout bowler, returning impressive figures of 4 for 24. Bartlett and debutant Mahli Beardman supported him well, claiming two wickets each.
