LAHORE: Saim Ayub produced an all-round performance to help Pakistan carve out a 22-run victory over Australia in the first T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday. This was Pakistan’s first win over Australia since October 2018 and after eight matches.

Saim top-scored with 40 as Pakistan, electing to bat first, collected 168 for eight in their 20 overs. Saim then removed openers Matthew Short (5) and Travis Head (23) to finish with two for 29 as Australia ended at 146 for eight. Saim was later named player of the match – the third time he had earned the honour in 58 matches.

Abrar Ahmed proved that he was one of the fastest-improving cricketers when he bowled intelligently, conceding just 10 runs in his four-over spell, including a boundary. Shadab Khan displayed that he was slowly returning to top form when he gave away 25 runs from his three overs, while Mohammad Nawaz showed his utility and effectiveness as an all-rounder when he followed up his 14-ball 15 by conceding 25 runs in his four overs.

For Australia, which slipped from 68 for two in seven overs to 112 for eight in 15.4 overs, Cameron Green top-scored with a 31-ball 36 that included three sixes and a four. He added 40 runs from 23 balls with Matthew Renshaw (15) for the third wicket.

After Australia were eight wickets down and needed 57 runs from 26 balls, Xavier Bartlett used the long handle effectively, hitting three fours and two sixes in a 25-ball 34 not out.

Earlier, Saim Ayub stitched a 74-run second-wicket partnership with captain Salman Ali Agha from 45 balls to steer Pakistan to 168. While Saim scored 40, Salman contributed 39 from 27 balls with one six and four fours.

The other partnership of note was for the fourth wicket that yielded 37 runs from 27 balls between Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. Babar scored a 20-ball 24 with one four, while Fakhar scored 10 from 16 balls – an innings that summed up the quality of the batting surface.

For Australia, wrist spinner Adam Zampa was the best bowler of the evening. He returned figures of 4-0-24-4. Bartlett picked up two wickets for 26 runs, while Mahli Beardman snapped up two for 33 on his debut.

The second and third T20Is will be played on Saturday and Sunday at the Gaddafi Stadium.

Scores in brief

Match 1- Pakistan beat Australia by 22 runs

Pakistan 168-8, 20 overs (Saim Ayub 40, Salman Ali Agha 39, Babar Azam 24; Usman Khan 18; Adam Zampa 4-24, Xavier Bartlett 2-26, Mahli Beardman 2-33)

Australia 146-8, 20 overs (Cameron Green 36, Xavier Bartlett 34 not out, Travis Head 23; Abrar Ahmed 2-10, Saim Ayub 2-29)