Pakistan (168/8) defeat Australia (146/8) by 22 runs in the opener of T20I series at Lahore

[jnaveen1980]

I see a lot of hype on social media Babar was great on the field? DId he take some blinders or what?

 

[Rana]

Why is it always “after the World Cup”. Is it such a big risk if they actually play the world cho!

I mean how much worse can any of them be than babar and Fakhar (in his current form).

Same people who say “after World Cup” will want the same crappy players back after a couple of series too.

 

[Devadwal]

Congratulations Pakistan for winning a T20 match against Australia "D" since 7 year. @The Bald Eagle @DeadlyVenom

 

[Bhaag Viru Bhaag]

Nice to see some of my fellow Indian fans claiming they don't care about India vs Pakistan, while watching Pakistan vs Australia in a random series. @The Bald Eagle @BouncerGuy

 

[The Bald Eagle]

The highlights

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Pakistan begin T20I series on winning note as spinners restrict Australia​

Pakistan successfully defended their 168-run total in the first of the three T20Is against Australia to hand them a 22-run defeat here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on Thursday evening. The second and third matches of the series will be played on Saturday and Sunday, beginning at 4pm PKT.

Hosts’ quartet of spinners comprising Saim Ayub, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz led by Abrar Ahmed picked up six for 89 in 14 overs combined after Australia got off to a flying start scoring 21 off the first 10 balls in the chase.

Saim castled Matthew Short in the second over for five and then dismissed Travis Head (23, 13b, 2x4s, 2x6s) in the fourth over to reduce Australia to 28-2.

Cameron Green (36, 31b, 3x4s, 1x6) and debutant Matt Renshaw (15, 11b, 1x4, 1x6) then tried to rebuild the innings with a brisk 23-ball 40 before the latter was run out by Salman Ali Agha. One ball later Abrar bowled Cooper Connolly for a two-ball duck to put brakes on Australia’s advance.

Australia slipped from 68-2 to 112-8 losing six for 44 in a span of 51 balls with the spinners squeezing their innings from both ends. In the 16th over, Abrar removed Josh Philippe to finish his spell with outstanding figures of two for 10.

No.nine batter Xavier Bartlett struck three fours and two sixes to score unbeaten 34 off 25 balls but in vain as Australia couldn’t overhaul the 43 required in last two overs, which came down to 32 off the last six balls.

Earlier, Saim and Salman provided Pakistan a ballistic start with 74-ball stand following Sahibzada Farhan’s first-ball departure against Bartlett. Saim struck 40 off 22 with the help of three fours and two sixes, while Salman Ali Agha amassed 39 off 27 balls striking four sixes and one four.

Pakistan finished the Powerplay with 56 runs on the board as Australia employed five different bowlers including the debutants Mahli Beardman and Jack Edwards. For the hosts, the first three boundaries came in the form of sixes, one each in the first three overs.

Adam Zampa, who picked up a wicket each in his four overs, struck first in the eighth over to remove Saim as he skied one to long on. Salman departed in the 10th over with Pakistan 92-3 at the halfway mark.

Babar Azam, playing his 100th international match on Pakistan soil, fell for 24 off 20 hitting a six and a four after stitching a 37-run stand for the fourth wicket. From 124-4 in 14 overs, Australia picked up four wickets for 44 in the last 36 balls.

Usman Khan and Mohammad Nawaz both chipped in with a 14-ball 18 and 15 not out, respectively as Pakistan posted 168-8 in 20 overs.

Apart from Zampa’s four for 24, Mahli Beardman picked up two wickets, with both coming in the 20th over on back-to-back balls. Bartlett also dismissed two batters.

 

[srh8119]

Why is it always “after the World Cup”. Is it such a big risk if they actually play the world cho!

I mean how much worse can any of them be than babar and Fakhar (in his current form).

That's why i say they are not even looking to win a world cup, gone are the days when Imran Khan sent a young Inzamam in the semi final because he believed in him
Ours will stick with dead horses like Babar, these cornered kittens of our time

 

[Rana]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2016894242212499722

 

[zahid01]

Win is win even against a second string 11 good performance by the spinners still batting is a concern

 

[shamaan]

Babar doesnt warrant a place in the xi.

 

[the Great Khan]

The fast bowling was abysmal..

 

[zahid01]

Babar doesnt warrant a place in the xi.

Because of him nafay is sidelined plus hassan nawaz was not picked because of babar the anchor

 

[shamaan]

Because of him nafay is sidelined plus hassan nawaz was not picked because of babar the anchor

nafay should play ahead of Babar.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

2nd xi

 

[zahid01]

nafay should play ahead of Babar.

This will never happen best we can hope for is nafay for usman khan

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

The curator did a good job trying to recreate a Sri Lankaesque wicket

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

First T20I win for Pakistan over Australia in 7 years, and that too against a side missing many key players. That is an embarrassing stat.

Pakistan played well but pretty much all of Australia's key batters apart from Head and Green were missing. No Cummins or Hazlewood either.

 

[Mas-LFC]

A win against any aussie side is a good win. congrats

 

[TheSultan]

I was looking for a thread to put this in, couldn’t find one so I’ll put it here.

What an absolutely pathetic middle order. Babar is a complete timid little kitten. Not only that, he looks so awful even when he’s trying to hit boundaries. Fakhar tries, but his timing, form and reflexes seem to have deserted him. Usman Khan - I’m happy he’s getting some games because of his UAE sacrifice, but he isn’t the answer.

It is beyond belief that our 4,5 and 6 are this bad. Give Nafay the gloves and bat at no5. Dropping babar is probably out of the question because of the politics and his own petulant behaviour. If he must play, he should slot in with the tail. If he gets a bat, hopefully we’d have done enough damage to not have to worry about him.

It’s a truly pathetic lineup

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Great win. All signs indicate pak has good chances to win the wc. They are peaking

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Damien Martyn has praised Pakistan's performance following their victory in the first T20I

https://twitter.com/x/status/2016943321365807147

 

[Cric1234]

Great win. All signs indicate pak has good chances to win the wc. They are peaking

only if the average score in Pakistans matches is around 150 in high scoring matches of 180 plus i expect the best teams to be too strong for us.

 

[Rana]

7 years

Rizwan started featuring regularly in 2019 btw

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

Pak won against sa
They won against sl
Now likely to win against Aus

All good signs for a terrific outing ?

 

[Rana]

7 years lol

The funny thing is, Aussies have always had a gun T20 side from the time of inception in 2007 and have remained at that top 2-3 team spot throughout. Never have they fallen off like Pakistan has.

We used to beat them in World Cup T20s and in Bilaterals too.

Last 7 years they have basically just annihilated us at any stage and with any team.

This win is very good! On Paper they are still far superior to Pakistan even with the XI they fielded today

 

[Rana]

Pak won against sa
They won against sl
Now likely to win against Aus

All good signs for a terrific outing ?

Hesson has been a brilliant coach for Pakistan. Best we’ve had since Mickey/Sarfaraz era

 

[Cryin Out Loud]

For those who didn’t watch, what were key takeaways, if any, from the win for Pakistan?

I’ve read the scorecard, seems like the spinners were amongst the wickets, Saim had a good game, Australia played some lesser known players and Azam played his usual innings (no judgment).

TIA.