Pakistan vs Australia Match Highlights & Results

Seven years of waiting, ended in one night - The home team start the series on a perfect note. One will say Australia were missing quite a few core members, but they were expected to give a fight. With a couple of players coming back in for the second match, we should get a much more neck-to-neck game. That concludes this game. Join us back for the second T20I on the 31st of January at 11 am GMT. You can join us a lot sooner for the build up. Goodbye and cheers!

Pakistan's captain - Salman Agha says they started well with the bat but couldn't finish as they wanted to, as it was challenging to bat after 10 overs. Reckons that he will bat at number 3 as he feels he can dominate against the spin. Shares that he felt 170 was enough, but could have scored 10-15 more. On Abrar Ahmed,  Agha says he has been outstanding since his debut. Agha expressed hope that the team can carry this form into the World Cup.

The skipper of Australia -  Travis Head spoke after the match, calling the result disappointing but acknowledging that sometimes things don’t go as planned. He noted that scoring became difficult as the ball got softer. Head praised the debut performances of several players and singled out Mahli Beardman, Adam Zampa, and Xavier Bartlett for their strong contributions. He concluded by emphasizing the team’s focus on improving and performing better in their next outing.

Saim Ayub wins the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance - Ayub says the conditions were a bit challenging, but his plant was to dominate with the new ball as much as possible. Reckons that with the ball, he tried to hit the good length as it was not easy to score.

...Presentation....

Earlier in the game - Pakistan’s innings proved to be a tale of two halves, collapsing from a position of strength to finish on a modest 168/8. A brisk 74-run partnership between Salman Agha and Saim Ayub. At the halfway mark, the hosts sat comfortably at 92/3. However, the momentum shifted dramatically as the middle order crumbled against Australia’s disciplined attack. Adam Zampa turned the game on its head, finishing with stellar figures of 4/24. Pakistan managed only 76 runs in the back ten overs. They looked 10-15 runs short but Pakistani spinners turned up for the task.

The middle order collapse - Abrar Ahmed showed his magic as he tightened the screws by dismissing Cooper Connolly. The visitors' woes were compounded by a stroke of misfortune when Owen was found short at the bowler's end. While wickets tumbled around him, Cameron Green remained the lone warrior, keeping Australian hopes alive. However, his dismissal in the 13th over proved to be the final nail in the coffin. With Green gone, the visitors entered a downward spiral, losing wickets at regular intervals as their momentum vanished.

A fight against the spin - The Australian chase began with a characteristic blitz from skipper Travis Head, who took the attack to the Pakistani bowlers from the opening delivery. Head seemed to find his rhythm instantly. However, the momentum shifted when Saim Ayub struck a crucial blow, cleaning up Short and Head cheaply.  In the wake of the openers' departures, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green opted for a more measured approach. Just as the partnership began to look promising, a moment of individual brilliance from Salman Agha in the field turned the tide. A lightning-fast piece of fielding caught Renshaw comfortably short of his ground, providing Pakistan with a vital breakthrough just before the halfway mark.

History made in Lahore - For the first time in 7 years, Pakistan have conquered the Aussies in a T20I. With a clinical 22-run victory, the Men in Green take a 1-0 lead in the series. The drought is over, and Pakistan have picked the right momentum before the mega event kicks off.

Salman Mirza to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.Salman Mirza could have ended with a wicket to his name! A low full toss, around off, Bartlett slams it back to Mirza, who tries to take it near his chest but fails as it comes back ferociously. It rolls away for a single. Pakistan win by 22 runs.

Salman Mirza to Xavier Bartlett, No run.Bowls it very full, outside off, Bartlett swings his blade wildly and mistimes it back to Mirza.

Salman Mirza to Adam Zampa, 1 run.On a nagging length, around off, Zampa punches on the up, past cover for one.

Salman Mirza to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.Overpitched, outside off, too wide. Bartlett carves it to deep point for a single.

Salman Mirza to Xavier Bartlett, No run.Pushes it full, outside off, Bartlett exected anoter short ball, tries to drive it away from the body and misses. 26 needed in 4 balls.

Salman Mirza to Xavier Bartlett, Six!SIX! OH, HANG ON! The game is not done yet! Bangs it short and around off, Bartlett anticipates the length, goes back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a six.

Salman Mirza to bowl the final over. 32 runs needed in 6 balls.

Shaheen Afridi to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.Too full and sliding on leg, Bartlett pushes with a straight bat to long on for one.

Shaheen Afridi to Xavier Bartlett, Six!SIX! Bartlett connects one! Picks the slower delivery quickly as Afridi bowls into the surface, Bartlett clears his fornt leg and hammers it over mid-wicket for a six.

Shaheen Afridi to Adam Zampa, 1 run.An in-angler, fuller and on leg, Zampa creates room on the off side and tucks it to square leg for a single.

Shaheen Afridi to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.Another single as Xavier Bartlett plays it to long on.

Shaheen Afridi to Adam Zampa, 1 run.On a good length and on top of off. Zampa taps it to the left of point for a single.

Shaheen Afridi to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.Bowls it very full and around off, Bartlett whips it down to long on for a run.

Shaheen Afridi to bowl the penultimate over.

Abrar Ahmed to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.Tad short and around off, Xavier Bartlett keeps the strike as he works it to deep mid-wicket.

Abrar Ahmed to Xavier Bartlett, No run.A googly, outside off and on a length, Xavier Bartlett looks to heave it but misses.

Abrar Ahmed to Xavier Bartlett, Four!FOUR! Just short of Azam! Good effort though! Dragged down, around off, Xavier Bartlett pulls it over to long on. Babar Azam runs to his right and dives as the ball dips, stretches his right hand out but the ball bounces away for a boundary.

Abrar Ahmed to Xavier Bartlett, No run.Bowls the wrong 'un, fuller and on leg, Xavier Bartlett gets low to pull but misses it. The ball stays shy low.

Abrar Ahmed to Adam Zampa, Bye.Bye! Floats it on the full side, the googly on leg, Zampa looks to slog-sweep but misses and it rolls past the stumps and past the keeper for a bye.

Abrar Ahmed to Adam Zampa, No run.Bowls it on a good length, outside off, Zampa goes back and punches it to point.

Mohammad Nawaz to Adam Zampa, 1 run.A single to end the over as Adam Zampa plays it to deep mid-wicket.

Mohammad Nawaz to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.Very full and on middle, whipped to deep mid-wicket for a single

Mohammad Nawaz to Adam Zampa, 1 run.Slows up the pace as Nawaz sees Zampa coming down the track, around off, Zampa knocks it past cover for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Adam Zampa, No run.Flatter and comes with the arm on leg, Zampa makes room and punches it in front of cover.

Mohammad Nawaz to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.Touch fuller, turning in, on middle, Bartlett heaves it to deep mid-wicket, who runs in and picks up on a bounce.

Mohammad Nawaz to Xavier Bartlett, Four!FOUR! HIT HARD! Fractionally short from Nawaz, around off, Bartlett stands tall and dispatches it over long on ad it rolls to the fence. Need more boundaries.

Abrar Ahmed to Adam Zampa, No run.Just a run and a wicket off the over! This is full and around off, turning away, Zampa plays it to cover.

Abrar Ahmed to Adam Zampa, No run.A googly, fuller and around off, Adam Zampa leans and pushes it to cover.

Adam Zampa walks in to bat.

Abrar Ahmed to Josh Philippe, OUT! c Saim Ayub b Abrar Ahmed.OUT! GONE! Josh Philippe goes and takes the remaining hopes with him. A carrom ball, touch shorter and around off, Josh Philippe goes back and opens up the leg side as he takes his front foot away, pulls it high and to deep square leg where Saim Ayub holds onto it.

Abrar Ahmed to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.Tossed up on middle, Xavier Bartlett flicks it to square leg for a single.

Abrar Ahmed to Xavier Bartlett, No run.RIPPER! Abrar Ahmed lands it full and on middle, turns in sharply and goes past Xavier Bartlett's attempted flick, he gets squared up there. The ball rolls just past the leg pole.

Abrar Ahmed to Xavier Bartlett, No run.Tossed up, around off, spinning in. Xavier Bartlett pushes it to cover.

Abrar Ahmed (2-0-4-1) is back on. A halt in play as one of the floodlights has gone off at the Gaddafi Stadium. Oh, it's back on quickly.

Mohammad Nawaz to Xavier Bartlett, 1 run.On a length, on off. Knocked down to long off for one by Bartlett. Australia need 58 off the last five overs.

Mohammad Nawaz to Xavier Bartlett, Four!DROPPED AND FOUR! Tad short, sliding into the middle stump line. Bartlett goes back and pulls it hard toward long on where Shadab Khan moves to his left, puts down the chance, and parries it over the ropes.

Mohammad Nawaz to Xavier Bartlett, No run.On a length, on off. Bartlett defends it back to the bowler.

Mohammad Nawaz to Xavier Bartlett, No run.JAFFA! Flatter delivery, sliding in, and spins late to beat the outside edge of Bartlett.

Mohammad Nawaz to Xavier Bartlett, No run.Flatter arm ball, on off. Bartlett stays back and defends it to short cover.

Mohammad Nawaz to Josh Philippe, 1 run.Tossed up full, on off. Philippe sits low and sweeps it hard to deep square leg for one.

Shadab Khan to Xavier Bartlett, No run.Fuller googly, just outside off. Bartlett looks to drive but gets beaten on the inside edge.

Australia are in serious trouble. Xavier Bartlett comes in at number 9.

Shadab Khan to Jack Edwards, OUT! c Babar Azam b Shadab Khan.OUT! SHARP CATCH SENDS EDWARDS PACKING! Tossed up full, googly, on off. Edwards heaves it aerially toward the long on region. Babar Azam comes running in from the ropes and dives forward to take a brilliant grab. Australia slide into more trouble. Seven down now.

Shadab Khan to Josh Philippe, 1 run.Tossed up full, on the middle and leg. Philippe works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Shadab Khan to Josh Philippe, 2 runs.Flatter googly, on the middle and leg. Nudged through the gap at mid-wicket for two more.

Shadab Khan to Jack Edwards, 3 runs.Looped up on the middle and leg. Edwards flicks it toward the deep square leg region and a misfield by Shaheen Afridi allows the triple.

Shadab Khan to Jack Edwards, No run.Flighted full, on off. Edwards pushes it back to the bowler.

Mohammad Nawaz to Jack Edwards, 1 run.Tossed up full, on off. Edwards flicks it through the gap at mid-wicket for a single. Australia are 99/6 after 13 overs. They need another 70 off 42 balls.

Mohammad Nawaz to Jack Edwards, No run.Slower through the air, and straighter delivery, just outside off. Edwards was playing for the spin, swings, and misses.

Mohammad Nawaz to Josh Philippe, 1 run.Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Philippe nudges it through the gap at square leg for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Jack Edwards, 1 run.Tossed up on a length, on off. Edwards knocks it down to long off for one.

The debutant, Jack Edwards comes to the crease at number 8.

Mohammad Nawaz to Cameron Green, OUT! c Babar Azam b Mohammad Nawaz.OUT! MOHAMMAD NAWAZ GETS THE SET BATTER! Tossed up full, on off. Green makes space and tries to launch it over the long off fence, but he fails to get the height or the distance. Babar Azam, near the ropes, times his jump to perfection, and hangs onto a sharp chance. Australia slide further.

Mohammad Nawaz to Josh Philippe, 1 run.Flatter arm ball, on the leg. Philippe nudges it through the square leg region for a single.

Shaheen Afridi to Cameron Green, 2 runs.Fuller than a length, angling into the middle and leg. Green flicks it through the gap at mid-wicket and takes two.

Shaheen Afridi to Cameron Green, Four!FOUR! Put away! Slower, back of a length, angling down the leg. Green picks it this time and helps it to fine leg for a much needed boundary.

Shaheen Afridi to Cameron Green, No run.Slower ball, short of a good length, angling in, and goes over the top of the stumps. Green is early into the pull, but gets deceived by the lack of pace.

Shaheen Afridi to Cameron Green, No run.Full pitcher on off. Green crouches low and lifts it on the bounce to the man at short extra cover.

Shaheen Afridi to Josh Philippe, 1 run.Short of a good length, on the middle and leg. Philippe knocks it toward wide of mid on for a single.

Shaheen Afridi to Cameron Green, 1 run.Pace off, back of a length, angled into off. Green hacks the pull toward deep mid-wicket for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Josh Philippe, 2 runs.On a length, on the middle and leg. Clipped toward the gap at deep mid-wicket and they scamper for the double.

Mohammad Nawaz to Cameron Green, 1 run.On a length, around off. Green goes back and punches it down to long off for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Josh Philippe, 1 run.Flatter arm ball, on the leg pole. Philippe tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Mohammad Nawaz to Josh Philippe, 2 runs.Tossed up full, just outside off. Philippe opens the bat's face and slices the drive through the gap at backward point for a brace.

Mohammad Nawaz to Cameron Green, 1 run.Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Green knocks it down to long on for one.

Half the side is gone now. Josh Philippe comes to the crease next.

Mohammad Nawaz to Cameron Green, OUT! run out (Mohammad Nawaz).OUT! RUN-OUT! UNLUCKY WAY TO GO FOR OWEN! Flatter arm ball, just outside off. Green goes back and flat-bats it to Nawaz, who gets a hand on the way, before it ricochets onto the stumps at the bowler's end. Owen is out of the crease, and Pakistan have appealed for the run-out check. The TV umpire has been referred to check the replay. The replay confirms that the ball has made contact with the finger, and it is given OUT on the big screen. Owen departs for 8. Australia are five down.

DRINKS BREAK! Pakistani spinners have done an excellent job of ascending the required run rate to 9. Cameron Green has anchored from one side but has lost a couple of partners. Green will hope for Owen to hang in there, as Australia will bank on this partnership to do the job. Also, Mohammad Nawaz is into the attack.

Abrar Ahmed to Cameron Green, 1 run.Angles it full and on middle and leg, nudged to long on for a single to end the over.

Abrar Ahmed to Cameron Green, No run.Bowls it touch outside off, it lands and spins back in sharply. Green rocks back and clears his front leg, pushed to point. Abrar Ahmed appeals as he thinks it is off the pads.

Abrar Ahmed to Mitchell Owen, 1 run.Flights it full and around off, Owen presses forward and plays it to long off for one.

Abrar Ahmed to Mitchell Owen, No run.Keeps it outside off, touch short and skidding off the surface, Owen chops it to cover.

Abrar Ahmed to Cameron Green, 1 run.Bowls it full and wide of off, Green leans across and crunches it to long off for one.

Abrar Ahmed to Cameron Green, No run.Flatter delivery, outside off, Green goes back and punches it straight to point.

Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, 1 run.Overpitched, in the blockhole, on middle, this is hit to long off for one more.

Shadab Khan to Mitchell Owen, 1 run.Tossed up, fuller ball, around off, driven to long off for a single.

Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, 1 run.Around off and turning back in, slightly flat. Green slaps it to deep cover for a single.

Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, No run.On a good length, outside off, spinning away. Green goes back and cuts it to point.

Shadab Khan to Mitchell Owen, 1 run.Slightly short, on middle, pulled to deep square leg for a single.

Shadab Khan to Mitchell Owen, Four!FOUR! FINE SHOT! Khan bowls it very full and on leg, Owen picks the length, gets on one knee and sweeps it down leg, very fine and past the fine leg fielder.

Abrar Ahmed to Mitchell Owen, 1 run.This one turns back in, on a length and outside off, Owen cuts it through point for a single. He is off the mark.

Abrar Ahmed to Mitchell Owen, No run.Ahmed pushes it wide outside off, too wide. Owen hits it to point.

Abrar Ahmed to Mitchell Owen, No run.Floats it full and outside off, Owen leans and defends it to cover.

Mitchell Owen replaces Cooper Connolly.

Abrar Ahmed to Cooper Connolly, OUT! b Abrar Ahmed.OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Another one bites the dust! Ahmed bowls a flatter delivery, outside off from around the wicket and turns in sharply. Cooper Connolly rocks back and cuts but gets beaten by the turn. Connolly fails and it crashes into the off pole. Huge turn on that one. Pakistan all over Australia with the double-wicket.

Abrar Ahmed to Cooper Connolly, No run.Tossed up, fuller and on middle, Cooper Connolly half presses to defend it out.

Cooper Connolly is the next batter in.

Abrar Ahmed to Matt Renshaw, OUT! run out (Salman Agha / Usman Khan).OUT! RUN OUT! Miscommunication and Renshaw has to go. Tossed up on the pads, Renshaw tucks it to Salman Agha at mid-wicket and runs across. Green is ball-watching and wasn't aware of the run. Sends back Renshaw from halfway down. Till then, Agha throws it to the keeper, who clips the bails off in a flash.

Will Saim Ayub bowl out? No, Abrar Ahmed replaces him.

Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, No run.Turning back in, length ball, around off, Green knocks it to cover.

Shadab Khan to Cameron Green, Six!SIX! Green hits one now! Fractionally short, outside off, spinning away. Green clears his front leg and whacks it over long on, flat for a six. Pure power.