Saim Ayub put in a performance with both bat and ball which enabled Pakistan to upstage a weakened Australian side by 22 runs to go 1-0 up in the 3-match series with two matches to spare. Saim Ayub looked determined to perform with the bat and he led the way in the powerplay after losing his opening partner Sahibzada Farhan early as his 40 off 22 balls alongside other notable contributions helped Pakistan post a competitive 168/8 in 20 overs.
While defending the target, Abrar Ahmed bowled an excellent spell picking up 2/10 in 4 overs while Saim Ayub picked up 2 wickets as well and others like Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan chipped in as Australia wilted against spin and ended with 146/8 in 20 overs with few batters getting starts but not going on with it. Pakistan lead the series 1-0 as Saim Ayub was awarded the Player of the Match.
Saim Ayub’s quickfire 40 enables Pakistan to post a competitive 168/8 in 20 overs
Winning the toss and deciding to bat first, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub came out to bat for Pakistan while Xavier Bartlett had the new ball for Australia. Pakistan got off the worst possible start as Farhan lobbed the ball straight back to bowler Bartlett for the catch as he fell for a golden duck. Captain Salman Ali Agha came out to bat next. The duo counter-attacked from the word go with Ayub playing the aggressor but Salman was not left far behind.
They maintained a nice tempo to the innings and played out the powerplay without any major alarms. Pakistan raced to a healthy 56/1 in 6 overs as the duo crossed the 50-run stand between them in quick time. The duo put on 74 for the second wicket before Ayub who was looking dangerous fell for 40 off 22 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes to his name to Adam Zampa. Pakistan’s King Babar Azam came out to bat next. Salman switched gears after Babar came in as the former captain took his time to get his eye in out there.
The duo could add only 12 runs to the score before the captain Salman fell for a well made 39 off 27 balls with 1 four and 4 sixes to his name to Zampa yet again. Fakhar Zaman came out to join Babar in the middle as the duo tried to forge a partnership at their own pace. It was a struggle for the left-hander out there in the middle. The duo put on 37 for the 4th wicket in which Babar scored most of the runs before the right-hander was dismissed for 24 off 20 balls with one four and one six to his name to Zampa yet again.
Keeper batter Usman Khan came out to bat next. Usman started to up the ante from the start while Zaman was going at less than run a ball. The duo added 17 runs to the score before Fakhar finally fell for a laboured 10 off 16 balls with one boundary to his name Bartlett. Mohammad Nawaz came out to bat with the score at 140/5 in 15.4 overs. Just 9 more runs were added to the tally before Usman fell for 18 off 14 balls with 2 fours to his name to Zampa again who picked up his 4th wicket of the innings. Shadab Khan came out to bat next.
Nawaz added a few crucial runs in the end overs. Nawaz and Shadab added 11 runs for the 7th wicket before Shadab fell for 1 off 4 balls to Mahil Beardman on debut. Beardman had two in two balls now as Shaheen Afridi the new batter in was dismissed for a golden duck. Salman Mirza came out to bat and negotiated the hat-trick ball as he managed to score a boundary as well. 8 runs were added off the last two balls.
Mohammad Nawaz remained unbeaten on 15 off 14 balls with one six to his name while Salman Mirza was unbeaten on 4 off 2 balls with a boundary to his name as Pakistan ended their innings at 168/8 in 20 overs. As many as 17 extras including 12 wides and a no ball was granted by the fielding side Australia.
Adam Zampa was by far the pick of the bowlers for Australia showing his class with figures of 4/24 in 4 overs. Xavier Bartlett chipped in with 2/26 in 4 overs. Mahil Beardman finished with 2/33 in 4 overs. Cooper Connolly went for 32 runs in 3 overs. Matthew Short went for 23 runs in 2 overs. Jack Edwards went for 25 runs in 2 overs. Cameron Green’s only over went for 11 runs. So, 169 was the target for Australia to go 1-0 up in the 3-match series.
Disciplined all-round bowling performance led by Abrar Ahmed helped Pakistan stave off Australia to draw first blood in series
Chasing 169 for the win, Matthew Short and captain Travis Head came out to bat for Australia while Shaheen Afridi had ball in hand for Pakistan. The Aussies got off to a fast start courtesy of Travis Head who was off the blocks quickly while Short managed to hit a boundary early as well. The duo put on 21 inside the first two overs before Short fell for 5 off 4 balls with a boundary to his name as he was cleaned up by Saim Ayub.
Cameron Green came out to bat next. Head was looking dangerous but for the addition of 7 runs, Head was dismissed for 23 off 13 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes to his name as Ayub had another with Babar taking the catch. Matt Renshaw joined Green in the middle. The duo tried to forge a partnership with Green scoring most of the runs while Renshaw helped him out. The powerplay score at the end of 6 overs for Australia were 57/2.
The duo added exactly 40 runs for the third wicket before Renshaw fell for 15 off 11 balls with one four and one six to his name thanks to a run out by Salman and Usman Khan the keeper combination. Cooper Connolly came out to bat next. But his innings lasted two balls as he was cleaned up by Abrar Ahmed. Mitchell Owen came out to bat next. Australia were 80/4 in 10 overs before Owen departed for 8 off 8 balls with one four to his name after the break as he was run out by Nawaz. Pakistan were 80/5 in 10.1 overs and in all sorts of trouble.
Josh Philippe came out to bat next and tried to steady proceedings for the Aussies but it was to no avail. Green and Philippe added 16 runs for the 6th wicket before the set batter Green departed for 36 off 31 balls with 3 fours and one six to his name to Mohammad Nawaz. Jack Edwards came out to bat next to join Phillipe in the middle. The duo added another 9 runs to the score before Edwards fell for 5 off 6 balls to Shadab Khan. Xavier Bartlett came out to bat next.
Just 7 runs were added to the score keeper batter Philippe fell for 12 off 10 balls to Abrar Ahmed yet again. Australia were now 112/8 in 15.4 overs and this is where Australia knew this game is as good as gone now. Bartlett hit some lusty blows towards the end while Adam Zampa is the new batter for the Pakistanis. Baartlet made sure there were no hiccups as no more wickets fell. The duo added an unbeaten 34 runs off 26 balls as Baartlet finished things in style with his unbeaten 34 off 25 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes to his name.
Adam Zampa was unbeaten on 5 off 10 balls as Australia were restricted to 146/8 in 20 overs. Just 3 extras given by the fielding side. Pakistan bowlers bowled really well with Abrar Ahmed leading the way with miserly figures of 2/10 in 4 overs. Saim Ayub finished with 2/29 in 3 overs. Mohammad Nawaz bowled well for his 1/25 in 4 overs. Shadab Khan chipped in with 1/25 in 3 overs. Shaheen Afridi finished with 0/29 in 3 overs while Salman Mirza finished with 0/27 in 3 overs. So, Pakistan win by 22 runs to take the series lead 1-0 in the series. Saim Ayub for his all-round performance was awarded the Player of the Match.
What Lies Ahead
So, Pakistan lead the 3-match T20I series 1-0 with 2 games to play. The next game takes place on 31st January, 2026 at Lahore itself. Australia has to play better cricket to level the series at this stage. So, at this stage, it is Pakistan who is the better team and will fancy winning this game on Saturday itself. Australia in a must-win situation as we enter the start of the tournament.
Let’s see how things pan out and whether Australia can make a comeback and level the series 1-1. Pakistan looking good for 2-0 at this stage.
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