Green Shirts Beat Australia in Thrilling T20 Opener
Pakistan kicked off their three-match T20 series against Australia with a convincing 22-run victory at the Qaddafi Stadium, taking a 1-0 lead.
Winning the toss, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha opted to bat first. The home side posted a competitive 168 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs, with Saif Ayub top-scoring with 40 runs.
Pakistan Innings:
Pakistan’s innings got off to a shaky start as Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed for a duck on the very first ball. Saif Ayub and Salman Ali Agha steadied the innings with responsible batting and a series of stylish shots. Ayub fell for 40 when the score reached 74, followed by Agha scoring 39. Contributions from Babar Azam (24), Fakhar Zaman (10), and Usman Khan (18) helped Pakistan reach a total of 168 for 8. Mohammad Nawaz remained unbeaten on 15.
Australia’s Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 wickets for 24 runs, while Mahli Beardman and Barley claimed two wickets each.
Australia Innings:
Chasing 169, Australia struggled to keep up with the required run rate, finishing on 146 for 8 in 20 overs. Cameron Green scored 36, and Barley added 34 runs. Pakistan bowlers Saif Ayub and Abrar Ahmed picked up two wickets each, while Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz took one apiece.
With the win, Pakistan now leads the three-match series 1-0. Travis Head led the Australian side, which included three debutants: Mahli Beardman, Jack Edwards, and Matthew Renshaw.
Pakistan’s playing XI comprised Saif Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, and Abrar Ahmed.
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