Pakistan take 1-0 lead in T20 World Cup warm-up clash
With the T20 World Cup looming large on the horizon, Pakistan delivered a timely reminder of their mercurial nature, overpowering a makeshift Australian side to claim a 22-run victory and a 1–0 lead in the three-match series, on Thursday night.
With the World Cup set to begin on February 7, this contest at Gaddafi Stadium is more about finding form before the tournament kicks off, with both teams having patchy form in the 20 over format.
Pakistan, rated a 17.00 outsider by cricket betting sites to lift the trophy, will take heart from a performance that saw them bat superbly early, with a key move being their skipper Salman Agha moving up the order to no.3.
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After winning the toss, Pakistan capitalised on early Australian indiscipline, building momentum through a fluent 73-run stand between Saim Ayub (40) and Agha (39).
Even the brilliance of Adam Zampa, Australia’s T20 leg-spinner, could only slow the charge. His superb 4-24 accounted for Pakistan’s four top scorers, but the hosts still posted a competitive 8-168.
Australia’s response never truly ignited. In a shadow XI missing Mitch Marsh, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell, Nathan Ellis and several other World Cup regulars, the chase faltered once Travis Head fell for a brisk 23 and Cameron Green holed out on 36. Pakistan’s spin quartet tightened the screws, strangling the middle order as Australia limped to 8-146.
Xavier Bartlett (34no off 25) offered late resistance after earlier claiming 2-26, while debutant Mahli Beardman showed flashes of promise under fire, including being on a hat-trick late, but the contest had already slipped away.
Beyond the scoreboard, Pakistan is still considering withdrawing from the World Cup, because of security concerns in India, which saw Bangladesh pull out. This was a move Pakistan publicly backed, which will further inflame tensions between the regional rivals.
For Pakistan, this victory ended a seven-year drought against Australia in T20s and reinforced belief ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Two more matches remain before both sides turn their eyes fully toward World Cup glory, with the matches scheduled to take place on Sunday and Monday, with both in Lahore.
Australia is the second favourite to win the T20 World Cup, with Australian betting sites having them priced at 4.45, behind India.
You can read our full preview of the Australian v Pakistan T20 series here.
