In a thrilling T20I series opener in Brisbane, Australia emerged victorious over Pakistan by 29 runs, despite a rain-delayed start that reduced the match to a seven-over contest.
Veteran batter Glenn Maxwell showcased his exceptional form, smashing a blistering 43 off 19 deliveries to power Australia to an imposing 93-4. Openers Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short set the tone with an aggressive start, while Marcus Stoinis provided a late surge with an unbeaten 21 off seven balls.
Pakistan’s chase faltered under the lights as quicks Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis claimed three wickets apiece. Bartlett dismissed captain Mohammad Rizwan for a second-ball duck and Usman Khan in the same over, while Ellis accounted for Babar Azam and Mohammad Haris.
Despite a late flurry from Abbas Afridi, who top-scored with an unbeaten 20 off 10 balls, Pakistan’s batting order crumbled, finishing well short on 64-9.
The victory marked a resounding performance for an Australia side missing several top players who are preparing for the upcoming Test series against India. Maxwell expressed his delight, saying, “We almost had our bags packed because we thought we wouldn’t get a game in. We certainly had a lot of fun out there.”
The series now shifts to the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday before concluding in Hobart on Monday. Pakistan captain Rizwan acknowledged the challenges of playing in such a fast-paced match, saying, “It’s difficult to keep things normal in this type of match because it went very fast.”
