Change in format of the game didn’t bring any luck to Australia as their batting collapsed once again in UAE in the first T20 against Pakistan. Pakistan won the first game by 66 runs as they wrapped Australian innings for just 89 in 16.5 overs.
Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first didn’t get everything going their way. Openers Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam added 32 runs in 25 balls to give them a decent start. Hafeez joined Azam to take them past 100 with a 73 runs partnership for the second wicket in 58 balls.
D Arcy Short dismissed Hafeez before scoring 39 off 30 balls with two sixes. They lost five wickets quickly as the middle order batsmen failed to capitalize on the start the openers and Hafeez provided. Babar Azam continued to score at one end and with Hazan Ali ( 17 off 8 balls) as he helped Pakistan post 155-8 on board.
The new look Aussie side had a shocking start to the chase as their openers Finch and D Arcy short were back in the pavilion in the first over with just five runs on board. Imad dismissed Finch for a duck and Short for just four runs. Faheem Ashraf dismissed Lynn for 14 and Maxwell for just two.
McDermott got run out for naught and Imad dismissed Alex Carey for just one run to make things worst for Australia. Coulter-Nile top scored with 34 and Agar scored 19. None of the other batsmen except Lynn cross the two digits mark as their innings wrapped up for just 89 runs.
Imad Wasim, the player of the patch produced a brilliant spell of 4-0-20-3. Andrew Tye and Stanlake were the best bowlers for Australia picking up three wickets each. Both teams will move to Dubai for the second T20 match.
