Pakistan beat Australia in the first T20. (Source: AP)
Pakistan proved one again why they are the top-ranked T20 team in the world after decimating Australia in the first of the three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series on Wednesday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Batting first the men in green posted 155/8 and in reply, Australia were completely outplayed by the home side as they folded up for just 89 runs. Imad Wasim the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/20 on his return to international cricket. At the end Pakistan won the match by a comprehensive margin of 66 runs.
Pakistan beat Australia. (Source: AP)
Australia have been bowled out for 89. Pakistan have completely outplayed their opposition. Pakistan win by 66 runs to go 1-0 up in the series. Imad Wasim the pick of the bowlers, taking 3/20 on his return to international cricket.
Shaheen Afridi gets rid of Andrew Tye. Faheem comes round the wicket and knocks over Tye's middle stump for 6. AUS- 78/9. Pakistan need one wicket to win
Hasan Ali takes a brilliant catch in the deep as Adam Zampa departs for 3. Australia need 84 runs in 33 balls. AUS- 72/8
Australia are in disarray! They have lost their seventh wicket as Hasan Ali gets rid of Ashton Agar for 19. Australia need 96 runs in 44 balls. AUS- 60/7
Australia are slowly rebuilding with Nathan Coulter-Nile and Ashton Agar. But it is a long road ahead. At the halfway mark, Australia are 39/6.
Australia are falling like nine pins here. This time it is Chris Lynn. Faheem Ashraf gets rid of the last recognized batsman. Australia are 22/6 and Pakistan are spitting fire!
Carey is out for 1 as Imad Wasim picks up his third wicket. The Aussies lose their fifth wicket inside the Power Play as Sarfraz takes a sharp catch up to the stumps off Imad. Carey gone for 1. Australia have already lost half their side. AUS- 22/5
Run out. That's a big blow as McDermott is run out pushing for a quick single to get off the mark. Sharp work from Fakhar in the field. Australia have once again lost two in quick succession. AUS- 16/4
Imad Wasim has given Pakistan exactly the kind of start they would have hoped for and then some. Finch is done by a delivery that comes back into him and takes off his middle stump. Short is done by a delivery that is moving away from him from around the wicket. He drags it back to his stumps and Imad Wasim has the chance to do his CR7 celebration twice.
Couple of late blows by Hasan Ali ensures Pakistan surpass the 150-run mark. 17 runs came off the last over as Pakistan reach 155/8. Babar Azam remains unbeaten on 68. For Australia, Tye and Stanlake were the pick of the bowlers picking up three wickets each. Can Australia complete the chase? Stay tuned
Pakistan were cruising at 130/3 in the 17th over and looked set for a big total. But Andrew Tye and Billy Stanlake changed the script completely from there on: W W . 1 W 1 1 W . W
OUT! Imad Wasim is caught at cover. He is out for a duck. Pakistan have lost five wickets in nine balls. It's completely falling apart for the men in green and skipper Sarfraz cannot hide his disappointment. PAK- 133/8
Another one bites the dust as Pakistan lose wickets in a heap. This time it is Shadab Khan who skies a pull shot to McDermott for 1. Pakistan are 133/7 (17.5) and they've lost four wickets in eight balls!
Pakistan lose their captain Sarfraz Ahmed for a duck! And suddenly Australia are back in to the game! Review... OUT! The umpire thought about it for a while before giving Sarfraz out lbw and the Pakistan skipper sent it upstairs. It stays Umpire's Call and he's gone for 0. Stanlake has two! PAK- 131/6
OUT! Two in Two for Andrew Tye. First to go is Talat for 9. Finch takes a wonderful catch at the boundary ropes. Faheem Ashraf departs off the next ball, caught at cover. Tye on a hat-trick. PAK- 130/5
Coulter-Nile to Babar Azam and he has launched it into the crowd for a huge hit. It was a good length delivery and Babar Azam clears his front leg to hoick it over deep mid-wicket. PAK- 125/3 , 16 ovs
Zampa catches Ali plumb in front of the wicket and Asif Ali has to walk back to the dugout for 2. PAK- 110/3. Meanwhile, third successive fifty in T20Is comes up for Babar Azam.
D Arcy Short gets rid off Hafeez for 39. Australia finally have the breakthrough! Short delivery and Hafeez goes for the big hit but mistimes it completely and McDermott takes a safe catch. PAK- 105/2, 13.5 ovs
Hafeez dances down the track to Zampa and lofts him over the long off region for a huge hit! Its a MONSTER!!! And with 100 comes up for Pakistan. After 13 overs, Pakistan are - 102/1
10 overs have been bowled and Pakistan are 77/1. Hafeez (27) and Babar (32) are at the crease. Adam Zampa and Andrew Tye have been bowling in tandem but have failed to make any inroads in the opposition batting line up. How will Australia get a breakthrough?
It has been a fine start for the home team as Pakistan have reached the 50 run mark with the loss of just one wicket. Babar Azam and Mohammad Hafeez continue to keep the innings steady. Pak- 50/1 after 7.1 ovs
Six overs gone and the powerplay comes to an end. Pakistan are 45/1. Fakhar Zaman has been the only casualty so far. Babar Azam (23) and Mohammad Hafeez (5) are the crease for the Pakistan. Australia will want more from their bowlers.
WICKET! First blood for Australia. Fakhar Zaman departs for 14. Billy Stanlake picks up the wicket. The ball was pitched short and outside the off-stump. Zaman, goes for a carefree pull and pays the price. PAK- 32/1, 4.1 ovs
Fakhar Zaman (10) and Babar Azam (14) have given the men in green a perfect start. Both the openers are cracking boundaries at will and the pitch seems good for batting. Already four boundaries have been hit.
Lights are back on the ground and we are ready for live action. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam are at the crease. Fakhar Zaman is on strike. Nathan Coulter-Nile will open the attack. Let's play!
Reportedly, before the match could begin there has been a floodlight failure in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi. Its pitch dark at the ground.
It is time for the national anthems. Australia first. It will be followed by Pakistan next.
Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Sarfraz Ahmed(w/c), Hussain Talat, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi
Aaron Finch(c), D Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Alex Carey(w), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake
Australia have won the toss and elected to field first. Aaron Finch is leading Australia while Sarfraz is captaining Pakistan once again.
Hello and welcome to our live blog of the first T20 international between Pakistan and Australia. Pakistan is set to host Australia for three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series, starting on Wednesday at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.