- Saim Ayub’s all-round brilliance paved the way for hosts romping to triumph
- Babar Azam became sixth Pakistan player to complete the haul of 100 international matches at home
Lahore, 29 January 2026: 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.
Scores in brief:
Match 1 of 3: Australia v Pakistan at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Pakistan 168-8, 20 overs (Saim Ayub 40, Salman Ali Agha 39, Babar Azam 24, Usman Khan 18, Mohammad Nawaz 15 not out; Adam Zampa 4-24, Xavier Bartlett 2-26, Mahli Beardman 2-34)
Australia 146-8, 20 overs (Cameron Green 36, Xavier Bartlett 34 not out, Travis Head 23; Abrar Ahmed 2-10, Saim Ayub 2-29)
Player of the match – Saim Ayub (Pakistan)
Series schedule: (All matches at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore)
1st T20I – Pakistan won by 22 runs
2nd T20I – Saturday, 31 January – 4pm PKT
3rd T20I – Sunday, 1 February – 4pm PKT
