Pakistan Defeats Australia by 22 Runs in 1st T20I

Pakistan posted 168/8 in their 20 overs and successfully defended the total, defeating Australia by 22 runs in 1st T20I. Chasing 169, Australia struggled to build partnerships and were eventually restricted to 146/8, falling short despite some resistance from their middle order.

Cameron Green top-scored with 36 off 31 balls, while Xavier Bartlett provided a late push with 34 not out. Travis Head added 23, and Matt Renshaw contributed 15 early runs, but wickets at regular intervals kept Australia struggling.

Abrar Ahmed led Pakistan’s bowling effort, picking up 2 wickets for just 10 runs in four overs. Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz claimed one wicket each, while Saim Ayub (2 for 29) made scoring difficult. Shaheen Shah Afridi went wicketless, while spinners prevented Australia from accelerating.

Australia made 50 runs in the powerplay but lost two early wickets, and even though Bartlett and Green stabilized the innings, the target remained out of reach. By 13.2 overs, Australia had crossed 100 runs, but Pakistan’s smart field placements and disciplined bowling ensured a 1st T20 victory by 22 runs.