All-rounder Saim Ayub starred as Pakistan secured a 22-run win over Australia in their first Twenty20 international at the National Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.
Ayub top-scored with a quickfire 40 off 22 balls, including two sixes and three fours. Salman Agha contributed another 39 runs from just 27 balls, hitting four sixes and a boundary.
The visitors managed only 146-8 in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to Pakistan’s bowlers who took six wickets. Saim Ayub was instrumental, dismissing both Australian openers Matthew Short (five) and Travis Head, who scored 23 off 13 balls with two sixes and two fours.
Cameroon Green managed a modest 36 from their 31 balls but succumbed to spin bowling by Abrar Ahmed, who took 2-10. Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan each accounted for one wicket apiece.
Pakistan’s Agha praised the team effort ahead of the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, starting on February 7th.
“A great game with a complete team effort,” said Pakistan skipper Agha. “We started well with the bat but couldn’t finish as we wanted. The ball turned tough after the first 10 overs, making it challenging to score.”
Australian opener Travis Head was disappointed with his batting performance, saying, “It was disappointing, but that’s how cricket goes sometimes. We tried to drag ourselves back after the initial phase but scoring became harder as the ball softened.”
In the match, Saim Ayub led Pakistan’s batting after their victory in the toss and decided to bat first. However, paceman Xavier Bartlett dismissed Sahibzada Farhan with the opening over.
Ayub and Agha then shared an 74-run partnership but were broken by Adam Zampa, who took 4-24 wickets including both Ayub and Agha in successive overs before dismissing Babar Azam (24) and Usman Khan (18).
Pakistan now look forward to the World Cup competition.