BRISBANE (SNP Report): Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis’ power hitting, coupled with excellent pace bowling, led Australia to a commanding victory over Pakistan in the rain-affected first T20I here at The Gabba on Thursday.
While chasing a massive 94-run target in seven overs, Pakistan managed 64-9, losing by a margin of 29 runs. The visitors had a horrible start to the run-chase as they lost six wickets in 3.2 overs with only 24 runs on the board. None of the top six batters managed to reach the double figures. Haseebullah Khan (12) and Abbas Afridi showed some resistance with a 23-run stand for the seventh wicket before the former fell prey to Nathan Ellis.
Adam Zampa bowled Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah off the final two balls to seal Australia’s victory. Abbas remained unbeaten on 20 off 10 which featured two fours and one sixes. Xavier Bartlett and Nathan Ellis took three wickets each for Australia, while Zampa took two and Spencer Johnson managed one.
Earlier, Maxwell (43) and Stoinis (21) displayed brilliant power hitting to take Australia to 93-4 in seven overs against a formidable pace attack of Pakistan. For the unversed, due to the rain and thunderstorms, the match was reduced to seven overs.
Australia, after being invited to bat first by the Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan, struck 16 runs in the first over, however, Jake Fraser-McGurk (9) fell prey to Naseem Shah on the first ball of the next over. Glenn Maxwell joined Matthew Short and smashed four boundaries to Naseem, taking Australia’s total to 33-1 in two overs.
Haris Rauf forced Pakistan’s comeback after two expensive overs as he gave away only three runs and removed Matthew Short (7). However his next over was expensive as Maxwell, who fell thrice to Haris during the ODI series, struck him for two sixes and one four.
Maxwell’s blistering 43-run knock came to an end in the next over when he was caught by Usman Khan at deep square leg off Abbas Afridi. The all-rounder conceded 19 balls and hit eight boundaries, including three sixes, during his entertaining knock.
Abbas dismissed Tim David (9) in the same over courtesy of Irfan Khan’s catch at deep midwicket. Stoinis struck 20 runs in the last over of Naseem to lift Australia’s total to 93-4. He remained unbeaten at 21 off seven, laced with two fours and one six. For Pakistan, Abbas took two wickets, while Naseem and Haris bagged one each.
SCORES IN BRIEF: AUSTRALIA 93-4, 7 overs (Glenn Maxwell 43, Marcus Stoinis 21*; Mohammad Abbas Afridi 2-9) beat PAKISTAN 64-9, 7 overs (Mohammad Abbas Afridi 20*; Nathan Ellis 3-9, Xavier Bartlett 3-13, Adama Zampa 2-11) by 29 runs.
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