LAHORE – Pakistan defeated Australia by 22 runs in the first match of the T20 series, taking a 1–0 lead in the series.
Chasing a target of 169 runs, the Australian cricket team managed to score 146 runs for the loss of eight wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Cameron Green was the top scorer for the visitors with 36 runs, while Travis Head scored 23, Matt Renshaw 15, Mitchell Owen 8, Matthew Short 5, Josh Philippe 12, and Jack Edwards 5 runs.
For Pakistan, Saim Ayub and Abrar Ahmed claimed two wickets each, while Shadab Ahmed and Mohammad Nawaz took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, in the first T20 match played at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha won the toss and opted to bat first. Batting first, the national team posted 168 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.
Pakistan’s innings was opened by Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, but Farhan was dismissed on the very first ball of the match. Saim Ayub and captain Salman Ali Agha then played responsible innings to steady the team, adding 74 runs for the second wicket.
Pakistan lost their second wicket at 74 when Saim Ayub was caught after scoring 40 runs, while Salman Ali Agha was dismissed for 39. The fourth wicket fell at a total of 123 when Babar Azam was out for 24 runs. Fakhar Zaman scored 10, Usman Khan 18, Shadab Khan 1, and Shaheen Shah Afridi was dismissed without scoring.
For Australia, Adam Zampa took four wickets, while Xavier Bartlett and Mahli Beard claimed two wickets each.
