Lahore: Pakistan opener Saim Ayub produced a brilliant all-round performance to guide the Green Shirts to a 22-run victory over Australia in the first T20I of the three-match series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.
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Ayub followed up a blazing 40-run knock with two crucial wickets as Pakistan successfully defended a modest total of 168.
Chasing 169, Australia struggled to build momentum and were restricted to 146/8 in their allotted 20 overs.
The visitors started brightly, with openers Matthew Short and stand-in captain Travis Head adding 21 runs in the first 10 balls. Ayub provided Pakistan with the breakthrough by removing Short for five, before striking again in his next over to dismiss Head, who smashed 23 off just 13 deliveries, including two sixes and two fours.
After Ayub’s double strike, Cameron Green and Matt Renshaw attempted to steady the chase with a 40-run stand for the third wicket. However, Renshaw’s run-out on the first ball of the eighth over triggered a collapse.
Australia then lost wickets in quick succession, including that of top-scorer Green, who made a cautious 36 off 31 balls, leaving the tourists reeling at 112/8 in 15.4 overs.
No.10 batter Xavier Bartlett fought back with an unbeaten 34 off 25 deliveries, but his late flourish was not enough to rescue Australia.
For Pakistan, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed picked up two wickets apiece, while Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz claimed one each.
Earlier, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to bat first got off to a disastrous start as opener Sahibzada Farhan departed for a diamond duck.
Ayub and Agha then stabilised the innings with a 74-run partnership for the second wicket. Adam Zampa broke the stand in the eighth over, dismissing Ayub for a match-high 40 off 22 balls, which included three fours and two sixes.
Agha followed soon after, falling to Bartlett for 39 off 27 deliveries, featuring four sixes and a four. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman added 37 runs for the fourth wicket before Zampa struck again to remove Babar for 24.
Pakistan lost Fakhar Zaman (10) and Usman Khan (10) in quick succession, slipping to 149/6 in the 18th over. Mohammad Nawaz provided late resistance with an unbeaten 15 off 14 balls as Pakistan finished on 168/8.
Adam Zampa led Australia’s bowling with impressive figures of 4/24, while Bartlett and debutant Mahli Beardman claimed two wickets each.
