- Pakistan could only score 64 runs in pursuit of the target of 94 runs.
- The Men in Green lost six hits by single-digit scores.
- Australia’s Bartlett and Ellis took three wickets each.
Brisbane: In the rain-hit T20I series opener, a dominant Australia secured a 29-run win after their bowlers caused Pakistan to collapse in the rain-hit first T20I of the three-match series against Pakistan at The Gabba on Thursday.
The Men in Green only managed to score 64/9 in pursuit of a daunting target of 94 runs in seven overs.
The visitors had a good start as they collected 12 runs for the loss of a wicket in the first over.
Pakistan then faced a disastrous collapse in the middle order, including the dismissal of key batsmen Babar Azam (3) and skipper Mohammad Rizwan (0), and were consequently reduced to 20/5 in three overs.
Xavier Bartlett, who took two wickets in his first over, dismissed Salman Ali Agha (4) to keep Pakistan under pressure. The right-arm bowler registered impressive bowling figures of 13/3 in his two overs.
After coming out to bat in the eighth over with the visitors trailing at 24/6 in 3.2 overs, Abbas Afridi provided notable resistance against an Australian bowling attack brimming with momentum with an unbeaten 20 runs.
But his efforts were not enough to guide his team over the line as Pakistan succumbed to a 29-run defeat in the series opener.
Nathan Ellis led the bowling for Australia with impressive figures of 3/9 in two overs, while Adam Zampa took two wickets.
Earlier, Glenn Maxwell’s blistering knock took Australia to a massive total of 93 in the first T20I.
In a match that was reduced to seven overs per side, Pakistan captain Rizwan won the toss and put Australia into bat.
The hosts came out all guns blazing with openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short scoring 16 runs from the off, bowled by ace Shaheen Shah Afridi.
Naseem Shah achieved Pakistan’s first success by dismissing Fraser McGurk, nine off five, on his first delivery.
But Maxwell, who had been promoted to third, took control of the action despite Short’s departure in the third period.
The powerful batsman eventually fell victim to Mohammad Abbas in the penultimate over, which also saw Tim David (9) dismissed as Australia fell to 73/4 in six overs.
Maxwell remained Australia’s top run-scorer with 19 fours and 43 fours, laced with five fours and three sixes.
Marcus Stoinis then smashed the breeze for 20 runs in the final over and boosted Australia’s total to 93/4 in the allotted seven overs.
The right-handed batsman remained unbeaten with his seven-ball 21, which included four fours and a six.
For Pakistan, Abbas took two wickets, while Shaheen and Naseem shared two wickets between them.
Days ago, the Men in Green celebrated a huge victory after defeating the Kangaroos in the third and final ODI, winning the three-match series 2-1.
With the win, the Green Shirts achieved their first ODI series win on Australian soil in 22 years, with the previous 50-over series victory dating back to 2002.
Additionally, it is worth noting that Pakistan are playing their first match since their dismal campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which saw them exit the group stage of the tournament for the first time due to their agonizing defeat to United. Countries and their arch-rival India.
Australia, on the other hand, rebounded after beating Scotland 3-0 and drawing 1-1 with its fierce rival England.
Playing eleven
Pakistan: Babar Azam, Muhammad Rizwan (c/wk), Sahibzada Farhan, Usman Khan, Salman Agha, Irfan Khan, Abbas Afridi, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haseebullah Khan, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah
Australia: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Matt Short, Josh Inglis (c/wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Aaron Hardy, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson