पाकिस्तान vs ऑस्ट्रेलिया, पहला टी20 Commentary, Live Updates

Seven years of waiting, ended in one night - The home team start the series on a perfect note. One will say Australia were missing quite a few core members, but they were expected to give a fight. With a couple of players coming back in for the second match, we should get a much more neck-to-neck game. That concludes this game. Join us back for the second T20I on the 31st of January at 11 am GMT. You can join us a lot sooner for the build up. Goodbye and cheers!

Pakistan's captain - Salman Agha says they started well with the bat but couldn't finish as they wanted to, as it was challenging to bat after 10 overs. Reckons that he will bat at number 3 as he feels he can dominate against the spin. Shares that he felt 170 was enough, but could have scored 10-15 more. On Abrar Ahmed,  Agha says he has been outstanding since his debut. Agha expressed hope that the team can carry this form into the World Cup.

The skipper of Australia -  Travis Head spoke after the match, calling the result disappointing but acknowledging that sometimes things don’t go as planned. He noted that scoring became difficult as the ball got softer. Head praised the debut performances of several players and singled out Mahli Beardman, Adam Zampa, and Xavier Bartlett for their strong contributions. He concluded by emphasizing the team’s focus on improving and performing better in their next outing.

Saim Ayub wins the Player of the Match award for his all-round performance - Ayub says the conditions were a bit challenging, but his plant was to dominate with the new ball as much as possible. Reckons that with the ball, he tried to hit the good length as it was not easy to score.

...Presentation....

Earlier in the game - Pakistan’s innings proved to be a tale of two halves, collapsing from a position of strength to finish on a modest 168/8. A brisk 74-run partnership between Salman Agha and Saim Ayub. At the halfway mark, the hosts sat comfortably at 92/3. However, the momentum shifted dramatically as the middle order crumbled against Australia’s disciplined attack. Adam Zampa turned the game on its head, finishing with stellar figures of 4/24. Pakistan managed only 76 runs in the back ten overs. They looked 10-15 runs short but Pakistani spinners turned up for the task.

The middle order collapse - Abrar Ahmed showed his magic as he tightened the screws by dismissing Cooper Connolly. The visitors' woes were compounded by a stroke of misfortune when Owen was found short at the bowler's end. While wickets tumbled around him, Cameron Green remained the lone warrior, keeping Australian hopes alive. However, his dismissal in the 13th over proved to be the final nail in the coffin. With Green gone, the visitors entered a downward spiral, losing wickets at regular intervals as their momentum vanished.

A fight against the spin - The Australian chase began with a characteristic blitz from skipper Travis Head, who took the attack to the Pakistani bowlers from the opening delivery. Head seemed to find his rhythm instantly. However, the momentum shifted when Saim Ayub struck a crucial blow, cleaning up Short and Head cheaply.  In the wake of the openers' departures, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green opted for a more measured approach. Just as the partnership began to look promising, a moment of individual brilliance from Salman Agha in the field turned the tide. A lightning-fast piece of fielding caught Renshaw comfortably short of his ground, providing Pakistan with a vital breakthrough just before the halfway mark.

History made in Lahore - For the first time in 7 years, Pakistan have conquered the Aussies in a T20I. With a clinical 22-run victory, the Men in Green take a 1-0 lead in the series. The drought is over, and Pakistan have picked the right momentum before the mega event kicks off.

Salman Mirza could have ended with a wicket to his name! A low full toss, around off, Bartlett slams it back to Mirza, who tries to take it near his chest but fails as it comes back ferociously. It rolls away for a single. Pakistan win by 22 runs.

Bowls it very full, outside off, Bartlett swings his blade wildly and mistimes it back to Mirza.

On a nagging length, around off, Zampa punches on the up, past cover for one.

Overpitched, outside off, too wide. Bartlett carves it to deep point for a single.

Pushes it full, outside off, Bartlett exected anoter short ball, tries to drive it away from the body and misses. 26 needed in 4 balls.

SIX! OH, HANG ON! The game is not done yet! Bangs it short and around off, Bartlett anticipates the length, goes back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a six.

Salman Mirza to bowl the final over. 32 runs needed in 6 balls.

Too full and sliding on leg, Bartlett pushes with a straight bat to long on for one.

SIX! Bartlett connects one! Picks the slower delivery quickly as Afridi bowls into the surface, Bartlett clears his fornt leg and hammers it over mid-wicket for a six.

An in-angler, fuller and on leg, Zampa creates room on the off side and tucks it to square leg for a single.

Another single as Xavier Bartlett plays it to long on.

On a good length and on top of off. Zampa taps it to the left of point for a single.

Bowls it very full and around off, Bartlett whips it down to long on for a run.

Shaheen Afridi to bowl the penultimate over.

Tad short and around off, Xavier Bartlett keeps the strike as he works it to deep mid-wicket.

A googly, outside off and on a length, Xavier Bartlett looks to heave it but misses.

FOUR! Just short of Azam! Good effort though! Dragged down, around off, Xavier Bartlett pulls it over to long on. Babar Azam runs to his right and dives as the ball dips, stretches his right hand out but the ball bounces away for a boundary.

Bowls the wrong 'un, fuller and on leg, Xavier Bartlett gets low to pull but misses it. The ball stays shy low.

Bye! Floats it on the full side, the googly on leg, Zampa looks to slog-sweep but misses and it rolls past the stumps and past the keeper for a bye.

Bowls it on a good length, outside off, Zampa goes back and punches it to point.

A single to end the over as Adam Zampa plays it to deep mid-wicket.

Very full and on middle, whipped to deep mid-wicket for a single

Slows up the pace as Nawaz sees Zampa coming down the track, around off, Zampa knocks it past cover for a single.

Flatter and comes with the arm on leg, Zampa makes room and punches it in front of cover.

Touch fuller, turning in, on middle, Bartlett heaves it to deep mid-wicket, who runs in and picks up on a bounce.

FOUR! HIT HARD! Fractionally short from Nawaz, around off, Bartlett stands tall and dispatches it over long on ad it rolls to the fence. Need more boundaries.

Just a run and a wicket off the over! This is full and around off, turning away, Zampa plays it to cover.

A googly, fuller and around off, Adam Zampa leans and pushes it to cover.

Adam Zampa walks in to bat.

OUT! GONE! Josh Philippe goes and takes the remaining hopes with him. A carrom ball, touch shorter and around off, Josh Philippe goes back and opens up the leg side as he takes his front foot away, pulls it high and to deep square leg where Saim Ayub holds onto it.

Tossed up on middle, Xavier Bartlett flicks it to square leg for a single.

RIPPER! Abrar Ahmed lands it full and on middle, turns in sharply and goes past Xavier Bartlett's attempted flick, he gets squared up there. The ball rolls just past the leg pole.

Tossed up, around off, spinning in. Xavier Bartlett pushes it to cover.

Abrar Ahmed (2-0-4-1) is back on. A halt in play as one of the floodlights has gone off at the Gaddafi Stadium. Oh, it's back on quickly.

On a length, on off. Knocked down to long off for one by Bartlett. Australia need 58 off the last five overs.

DROPPED AND FOUR! Tad short, sliding into the middle stump line. Bartlett goes back and pulls it hard toward long on where Shadab Khan moves to his left, puts down the chance, and parries it over the ropes.

On a length, on off. Bartlett defends it back to the bowler.

JAFFA! Flatter delivery, sliding in, and spins late to beat the outside edge of Bartlett.

Flatter arm ball, on off. Bartlett stays back and defends it to short cover.

Tossed up full, on off. Philippe sits low and sweeps it hard to deep square leg for one.

Fuller googly, just outside off. Bartlett looks to drive but gets beaten on the inside edge.

Australia are in serious trouble. Xavier Bartlett comes in at number 9.

OUT! SHARP CATCH SENDS EDWARDS PACKING! Tossed up full, googly, on off. Edwards heaves it aerially toward the long on region. Babar Azam comes running in from the ropes and dives forward to take a brilliant grab. Australia slide into more trouble. Seven down now.

Tossed up full, on the middle and leg. Philippe works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Flatter googly, on the middle and leg. Nudged through the gap at mid-wicket for two more.

Looped up on the middle and leg. Edwards flicks it toward the deep square leg region and a misfield by Shaheen Afridi allows the triple.

Flighted full, on off. Edwards pushes it back to the bowler.

Tossed up full, on off. Edwards flicks it through the gap at mid-wicket for a single. Australia are 99/6 after 13 overs. They need another 70 off 42 balls.

Slower through the air, and straighter delivery, just outside off. Edwards was playing for the spin, swings, and misses.

Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Philippe nudges it through the gap at square leg for a single.

Tossed up on a length, on off. Edwards knocks it down to long off for one.

The debutant, Jack Edwards comes to the crease at number 8.

OUT! MOHAMMAD NAWAZ GETS THE SET BATTER! Tossed up full, on off. Green makes space and tries to launch it over the long off fence, but he fails to get the height or the distance. Babar Azam, near the ropes, times his jump to perfection, and hangs onto a sharp chance. Australia slide further.

Flatter arm ball, on the leg. Philippe nudges it through the square leg region for a single.

Fuller than a length, angling into the middle and leg. Green flicks it through the gap at mid-wicket and takes two.

FOUR! Put away! Slower, back of a length, angling down the leg. Green picks it this time and helps it to fine leg for a much needed boundary.

Slower ball, short of a good length, angling in, and goes over the top of the stumps. Green is early into the pull, but gets deceived by the lack of pace.

Full pitcher on off. Green crouches low and lifts it on the bounce to the man at short extra cover.

Short of a good length, on the middle and leg. Philippe knocks it toward wide of mid on for a single.

Pace off, back of a length, angled into off. Green hacks the pull toward deep mid-wicket for a single.

On a length, on the middle and leg. Clipped toward the gap at deep mid-wicket and they scamper for the double.

On a length, around off. Green goes back and punches it down to long off for a single.

Flatter arm ball, on the leg pole. Philippe tucks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up full, just outside off. Philippe opens the bat's face and slices the drive through the gap at backward point for a brace.

Flatter arm ball, on the middle and leg. Green knocks it down to long on for one.

Half the side is gone now. Josh Philippe comes to the crease next.

OUT! RUN-OUT! UNLUCKY WAY TO GO FOR OWEN! Flatter arm ball, just outside off. Green goes back and flat-bats it to Nawaz, who gets a hand on the way, before it ricochets onto the stumps at the bowler's end. Owen is out of the crease, and Pakistan have appealed for the run-out check. The TV umpire has been referred to check the replay. The replay confirms that the ball has made contact with the finger, and it is given OUT on the big screen. Owen departs for 8. Australia are five down.

DRINKS BREAK! Pakistani spinners have done an excellent job of ascending the required run rate to 9. Cameron Green has anchored from one side but has lost a couple of partners. Green will hope for Owen to hang in there, as Australia will bank on this partnership to do the job. Also, Mohammad Nawaz is into the attack.

Angles it full and on middle and leg, nudged to long on for a single to end the over.

Bowls it touch outside off, it lands and spins back in sharply. Green rocks back and clears his front leg, pushed to point. Abrar Ahmed appeals as he thinks it is off the pads.

Flights it full and around off, Owen presses forward and plays it to long off for one.

Keeps it outside off, touch short and skidding off the surface, Owen chops it to cover.

Bowls it full and wide of off, Green leans across and crunches it to long off for one.

Flatter delivery, outside off, Green goes back and punches it straight to point.

Overpitched, in the blockhole, on middle, this is hit to long off for one more.

Tossed up, fuller ball, around off, driven to long off for a single.

Around off and turning back in, slightly flat. Green slaps it to deep cover for a single.

On a good length, outside off, spinning away. Green goes back and cuts it to point.

Slightly short, on middle, pulled to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! FINE SHOT! Khan bowls it very full and on leg, Owen picks the length, gets on one knee and sweeps it down leg, very fine and past the fine leg fielder.

This one turns back in, on a length and outside off, Owen cuts it through point for a single. He is off the mark.

Ahmed pushes it wide outside off, too wide. Owen hits it to point.

Floats it full and outside off, Owen leans and defends it to cover.

Mitchell Owen replaces Cooper Connolly.

OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Another one bites the dust! Ahmed bowls a flatter delivery, outside off from around the wicket and turns in sharply. Cooper Connolly rocks back and cuts but gets beaten by the turn. Connolly fails and it crashes into the off pole. Huge turn on that one. Pakistan all over Australia with the double-wicket.

Tossed up, fuller and on middle, Cooper Connolly half presses to defend it out.

Cooper Connolly is the next batter in.

OUT! RUN OUT! Miscommunication and Renshaw has to go. Tossed up on the pads, Renshaw tucks it to Salman Agha at mid-wicket and runs across. Green is ball-watching and wasn't aware of the run. Sends back Renshaw from halfway down. Till then, Agha throws it to the keeper, who clips the bails off in a flash.

Will Saim Ayub bowl out? No, Abrar Ahmed replaces him.

Turning back in, length ball, around off, Green knocks it to cover.

SIX! Green hits one now! Fractionally short, outside off, spinning away. Green clears his front leg and whacks it over long on, flat for a six. Pure power.

Pushed through, fuller and around off, Renshaw reverse paddles it to third man for a single.

Touch fuller and on middle, angling in, Green bunts it to mid-wicket for a single.

Too full and around off, flicked to square leg for a single.

Wide! That could have been a risky leave! Down the leg side, it lands and spins back into the batter. Renshaw steps across and leaves and the ball whizzes past the leg pole.

This is full and around off, Green knocks it to long off for a single.

SIX! Ends the Powerplay on a high! Tosses it up, fuller and around off, stays low but Renshaw generates enough power as he weighs back, hits it over long on for a six.

The slider, on a length and on leg, Green punches it to long off for a single.

Pushes it full, around off, stays a bit low, this is flicked to mid-wicket for a single. 50 up for Australia.

FOUR! Solid shot! Pitches it up, around off, the carrom ball. Renshaw bends low and crunches over cover for a boundary.

Tossed up, fuller and around off from around the wicket, Renshaw taps it back to Ayub.

Flat and comes with the arm on leg, Green whacks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Fuller than a good length, on the middle and leg. Green hacks it toward the wide of mid-on, and they sneak a quick single. After 5 overs, Australia are 44/2.

Slower, good length ball, on middle. Green backs away and dabs it toward the short third fielder.

FOUR MORE! Two in two! Short of a good length, just outside off. Green makes room and hammers it ferociously through the extra cover and mid off for another thumping hit.

FOUR! Thrashed! Back of a length, angling across the batter. Sits up nicely for Green, who slaps it over extra cover for a powerful boundary.

Short of a good length, skids through, just outside off. Renshaw taps it toward the backward point region for a single.

Fuller than a length on off. Renshaw knocks it toward silly mid-on.

WIDE! On a length and angling down the leg. Renshaw lets it go. Wide signaled.

Flatter carrom ball, on the middle and leg. Green works it through the gap at mid-wicket for two more.

Flighted full, on the middle and leg. Green heaves it high toward the wide long on region. Falls in no man's land, and they take two.

Fuller and quicker, at the stumps. Renshaw works it through the gap at mid-wicket for one.

Slower and shorter, around off. Renshaw knocks it toward short cover.

The next batter coming in is Matt Renshaw.

OUT! SAIM AYUB GETS THE BIG FISH! Tossed up full, on off. Head shimmies down and looks to clear the long off boundary, but it comes off the cue end, and it goes to Babar Azam coming in from the ropes, who takes a good, sharp catch. Australia lose their skipper for 23. The visitors are two down.

Very full, just outside off. Head bunts it back to the bowler.

Short of a good length, angling across the batter. Green swings and misses.

On a length, on off. Green steers it toward the man at short cover and looks to take the single but Head sents him back.

Slower ball on a length, close to the off-stump. Head backs away and chops it toward the man at point for a single.

Back of a length, angling in, and goes past the leg stump. Head makes room, swings at it but fails to connect.

SIX! Stand and deliver! Short of a good length, angled into the middle and leg. Head picks it early and launches it over the long on fence for a biggie.

Short of a good length, angling into off. Head pushes at it and gets the inside edge onto the pad.

Salman Mirza comes into the attack next.

Tossed up full, on off. Green prods and pushes it toward the man at mid off.

Cameron Green comes in at number 3.

OUT! CLEANED HIM UP! AYUB DRAWS FIRST BLOOD! Bowls the carrom ball, sliding into the middle stump line, much slower through the air, attacking the stumps. Short tries to heave it across the line but misses, and the ball rattles the stumps. Short goes for just 5. Australia suffer an early blow.

Tossed up on a length, angled into the middle. Head advances and looks to work across the line, ends up getting the inside edge onto the pad, rolls to short third for one.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Flatter arm ball, sliding into the middle and leg. Head goes back and punches it through the gap at covers for a lovely boundary.

Shorter and wider outside off. Head cuts and picks out the man at cover point.

SIX! BOOM! Tossed up full, at the stumps. Head shimmies down and smokes it over the long on fence for half a dozen.

Spin from the other end. Saim Ayub will share the attack.

FOUR! Streaky boundary to end the over! Full pitcher, swings back into the leg stump line. Short tries to flick it across the line but gets the inside edge that rolls down to fine leg for four runs.

Fuller than a length, angling back into the middle stump line. Short looks to work it across the line, but it comes off the toe end, rolls to the right of the keeper.

Short of a good length, outside off. Head carves it toward deep backward point for a single.

Skiddy length ball, moves away, around off. Head has a poke at it and gets beaten.

FOUR! Dispatched! Full pitcher, angling into the middle and leg. Head makes room and lifts it toward the wide long on region for a thumping boundary to get off the mark.

Australia are off and running! Fuller than a length on off. Short pushes it toward mid off and takes a quick single.