Brisbane, (Newsman): Glenn Maxwell’s explosive 43 off 19 balls, combined with a clinical bowling performance, guided Australia to a comprehensive 29-run victory over Pakistan in the rain-shortened first T20I at The Gabba on Thursday.
The match, reduced to seven overs per side, saw Pakistan falter in their chase of a 94-run target, managing just 64/9.
Pakistan made a promising start to their pursuit, scoring 12 runs for the loss of one wicket in the first over. However, their middle order collapsed under pressure, with key wickets falling in quick succession, including Babar Azam (3) and Mohammad Rizwan (0).
The visitors were soon reduced to 20/5 in just three overs.
Xavier Bartlett played a pivotal role in maintaining the pressure, taking two wickets in his opening over and dismissing Salman Ali Agha (4) to leave Pakistan in deep trouble. Bartlett finished with outstanding figures of 3/13 from two overs.
At 24/6 after just 3.2 overs, Abbas Afridi came to the crease and fought valiantly with a 20-run cameo, but his efforts were not enough to get Pakistan across the line. Australia wrapped up the innings with Pakistan still 29 runs short of the target, securing the win.
Nathan Ellis was the standout bowler for Australia, picking up 3/9 in two overs, while Adam Zampa claimed two wickets.
Earlier, Pakistan’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss backfired as Australia’s openers, Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short, raced to 16 runs in the first over off Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Although Naseem Shah made an early breakthrough, dismissing Fraser-McGurk (9), Maxwell’s arrival at No.3 shifted the momentum firmly in Australia’s favour.
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He dominated the Pakistan bowlers, hitting five fours and three sixes before falling for 43 in the penultimate over.
Tim David (9) was also dismissed in the same over, leaving Australia at 73/4 after six overs. However, Marcus Stoinis provided a strong finish, blasting 20 runs off Naseem Shah in the final over to push the total to 93/4.
For Pakistan, Mohammad Abbas was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2/23, while Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah took one wicket each.
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Despite some spirited fightback from Afridi, Australia’s total proved too much, and Pakistan’s chase ended in defeat.
PLAYING XIs
Australia: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short, Josh Inglis (c/wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson
Pakistan: Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan (c/wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Salman Agha, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haseebullah Khan, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah