Australia secured a commanding 29-run victory over Pakistan in the rain-impacted first T20I at The Gabba in Brisbane on November 14. The match, reduced to just seven overs per side due to heavy rain, saw Australia put in a dominant all-round performance to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.
Australia, having lost the preceding ODI series 2-1, began the T20I series with a strong showing. They posted a challenging 94/4 in their allotted seven overs, with Glenn Maxwell leading the charge. Maxwell’s explosive 43 off 16 balls included some stunning strokes against Pakistan’s best bowlers, and in the process, he crossed the milestone of 10,000 T20 runs, further cementing his reputation as one of the most aggressive players in the shortest format. Contributions from Marcus Stoinis (21*) helped Australia reach a competitive total despite some early setbacks.
Pakistan’s chase began shakily as they quickly lost wickets under pressure. Sahibzada Farhan, who started with two crisp boundaries, was dismissed by Spencer Johnson’s well-executed bouncer. In the following over, Xavier Bartlett delivered a match-changing spell, removing Mohammad Rizwan and Usman Khan in quick succession, leaving Pakistan at a precarious 16/3 after just two overs. Bartlett's brilliant effort set the tone for Australia’s bowling attack, and soon after, Nathan Ellis took control. Ellis dismissed Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam and Irfan Khan, reducing Pakistan to a dire 20/5 after three overs. Ellis finished with excellent figures of 3/9, showcasing his ability to maintain control in the shortest format.
Despite a brief revival from Abbas Afridi (20*) and Haseebullah Khan, who struck a few boundaries, Pakistan’s chase quickly fell apart as wickets continued to tumble. Adam Zampa, finishing off the innings with a memorable final over, took two wickets in two balls, including a skillful stumping of Shaheen Afridi. Zampa ended with figures of 2/11, highlighting Australia’s all-around dominance.
Pakistan, despite their efforts, were bowled out for just 65, handing Australia a comprehensive 29-run victory. The result gave Australia a crucial lead in the series, thanks to stellar performances from Maxwell, Bartlett, Ellis, and Zampa, and their complete dominance in both batting and bowling departments. This defeat left Pakistan with a lot to reflect on as they now face a challenging task to bounce back in the next two matches of the series.
