T20I Series: Australia defeated Pakistan by 29 runs in Thursday’s first match of their truncated T20I series. The game, delayed due to heavy rain and lightning, was shortened to just seven overs per side.
Maxwell’s Blistering Knock Powers Australia
Veteran batter Glenn Maxwell returned to form with a dazzling 43 off 19 balls. His aggressive innings led Australia to a substantial total of 93-4. Despite being short-handed, Australia set a daunting target for Pakistan.
Pak VS Aus T20 series
| Aspect | Pakistan (Pak) | Australia (Aus) |
|---|---|---|
| Team Captain | Babar Azam | Pat Cummins (or Aaron Finch, depending on the series) |
| Key Batters | Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Fakhar Zaman | David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell |
| Key Bowlers | Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan | Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa |
| Team Strengths | Strong top order, aggressive openers | Balanced team, explosive middle-order, experienced bowlers |
| Team Weaknesses | Inconsistent middle order, spin attack | Pressure in spin-friendly conditions, reliance on top order |
| Recent Form | Mixed results, strong performances in home series | Consistently strong in global T20s, defending T20 World Cup champions |
| Batting Style | Aggressive power hitters focus on top order | Explosive hitters, well-rounded batting depth |
| Bowling Style | Pace-heavy attack with quality spin support | Pace-bowling attack with world-class spin options |
| Fielding Strengths | Quick and athletic fielding, strong close-in fielders | Strong outfield, good catching in the deep |
| T20I Series History | Competitive in recent T20I series | Historically dominant in T20 series, 2021 T20 World Cup champions |
| Head-to-Head (Recent T20I) | Close encounters, with both teams winning on different occasions | Australia has a slightly better win rate in recent T20I matchups |
| Match Pressure | High expectations to perform in home conditions | Often under pressure to deliver in away conditions |
Pakistan’s Struggles with the Bat
In response, Pakistan’s batting line-up faltered under pressure, finishing with a disappointing 64-9. Australia’s bowlers, Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis, claimed three wickets each. Their fiery performance was a critical factor in Pakistan’s collapse. 
Ellis and Bartlett Shine in Australia’s Bowling Attack
The two quicks made successful comebacks after recent injuries, spearheading an aggressive bowling attack. Pakistan’s chase was derailed early, thanks to their pace and precision.
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Australia’s Resounding Performance Despite Key Absences
This was a strong performance from Australia, missing several top players due to preparations for the upcoming Test series against India. Maxwell commented, “We almost had our bags packed because we thought we wouldn’t get a game in. But we had a lot of fun out there.”
Rizwan Reflects on the Fast-Paced Match
Pakistan’s captain, Mohammad Rizwan, acknowledged the unique challenges of the truncated format. “It’s difficult to keep things normal in this type of match because it went very fast,” he said.
Revised Playing Conditions and Rain Delay
The match started more than two hours late due to thunderstorms in Brisbane. Under revised conditions, bowlers could bowl up to two overs each.
Pakistan’s Early Setback and Australia’s Dominance
Pakistan elected to bowl first after a surprising 2-1 ODI series win over Australia. However, their fast bowlers struggled against Australia’s aggressive batting. Openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short set the tone with 16 runs off the first over.
Maxwell’s Explosive Start
Fraser-McGurk (9) fell early to Naseem Shah, but Maxwell took charge. He hit four boundaries in his first six balls faced, showcasing his trademark inventiveness. A massive six off Haris Rauf over deep midwicket was the highlight. Maxwell was on track for a half-century before being dismissed by Abbas Afridi.
Stoinis Finishes Strong for Australia
All-rounder Marcus Stoinis provided a strong finish, scoring an unbeaten 21 off seven balls, helping Australia reach 93-4.
Pakistan’s Early Losses in Reply
Pakistan’s chase got off a rocky start as opener Sahibzada Farhan fell for 4, miscuing a pull shot off Spencer Johnson. Captain Rizwan followed shortly after, dismissed for a duck by Bartlett. Pakistan’s innings unraveled as Usman Khan and Babar Azam were dismissed early.
Late Resistance from Abbas
Despite the early collapse, Abbas Afridi fought back with a quick 20 not out off 10 balls. However, Pakistan’s chase was never on track, and they were all out for 64, 29 runs short of Australia’s total.
Looking Ahead
The series moves to the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday, with the final match scheduled for Hobart on Monday. Australia’s dominant performance sets a strong tone for the remainder of the series.
