The first T20 between Australia and Pakistan was affected by rain and heavy lighting, resulting in a reduced game of 7-overs per side. Pakistan’s skipper Mohammed Rizwan, who was playing his first T20I match as captain won the toss and elected to bowl first. Glenn Maxwell smashed 43 runs off 19 balls which helped the hosts to put a winning total on the board for 7 overs.
Shaheen Shah Afridi opened the bowling for Pakistan and got hammered for 16 runs, Naseem Shah got the first wicket of J Fraser-McGurk on the first ball of his spell. Pakistan believed they had found a moment of relief until Glenn Maxwell reversed sweep the very first ball he faced and sent Shah for a boundary, he smashed Shah for 17 runs.
In the 6th over, Abbas Afridi got the dangerous Maxwell and the big hitter Tim David on the last ball of the same over. Marcus Stoinis’s unbeaten 21 runs off just 7 balls contributed to Australia posting a big score of 93 runs in 7 overs.
Sahibzada Farhan and Rizwan were the openers for Pakistan, Farhan launched the chase with two consecutive boundaries to Spencer Johnson until the pacer surprised him with a short ball and had the last laugh. Pakistan never recovered from the first wicket and lost 6 wickets for 24 runs, Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis took 3 wickets each and sealed an easy victory for Australia.
Pakistan has never won a T20I match against Australia in Australia, Pakistan will aim to rewrite history as Australia will lock horns with Pakistan for the second T20 on 16 November at Sydney Cricket Ground.
Jasir Basharat is a cricket enthusiast capturing the heart of the game through insightful analysis and storytelling sharing his passion for the sport through engaging narratives. He is a business graduate from University of Kashmir.
