Ayub all-round display helps Pakistan clinch 1st T20I

Pakistan clinched a 1-0 series lead after beating Australia in the first T20I in Lahore by 22 runs. After reaching 168 for 6, a collective bowling and fielding performance by the hosts restricted the visitors to 146 for 8. Adam Zampa's 4 for 24 went in vain for Australia.

Pakistan lost opener Sahibzada Farhan first ball after he chipped one back to Xavier Bartlett. Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha got into the act quickly as the duo hit three sixes in quick time. Ayub hit back-to-back boundaries off Jack Edwards in the fourth over, whipping one to fine-leg before playing an exquisite drive through mid-off, as Australia used four different bowlers in the first four overs. Debutant Mahli Beardman's first over was an expensive one as he conceded 13 runs. The over also saw the hosts move past 50 in the PowerPlay.

Agha continued his exploits with a six over mid-wicket off Matthew Short but the 74-run stand came to an end as Ayub toe-ended one to long-on. The hosts then lost the big wicket of Agha as Zampa picked up his second scalp, which brought two new batters in. Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman took their time but found regular boundaries to keep the scoreboard moving. Babar danced down the ground against Zampa to smash it over long-on but three balls later, he was rapped on his pads after attempting a reverse sweep and was plumb in front. Zaman fell two overs later, after a scratchy 16-ball 10 as he holed out to long-off but this was sandwiched by Usman Khan's twin boundaries off the other Australian debutant, Jack Edwards.

Pakistan lost their way in the death overs as Usman too holed out before debutant Beardman picked two wickets in two balls in the final over as Pakistan finished on 168 for 8.

During the innings break, Zampa said that Australia would dish out an aggressive start as it was easier to bat with the new ball. And, he wasn't wrong. 10 runs came off the first over before captain Travis Head slammed a four and a six, but Ayub bit back as he castled Matthew Short. Head continued to go big with a six off Salman Mirza, but in his attempt to find the quick runs, he gave a simple catch to Babar at long-off off Ayub.

Cameron Green and Matthew Renshaw found a flurry of boundaries as Australia moved to 68 for 2 at the end of the seventh over. An eventful eighth over, however, saw Matt Renshaw run out while Cooper Connolly was bowled for a two-ball duck. Green and Mitchell Owen began to rebuild the innings but the latter was run-out after backing up too far from the non-striker's end. Green's scratchy innings of 36 from 31 too came to an end as Babar took another splendid catch on the boundary. Edwards' debut too came to an end in poor fashion as he holed out to Babar at long-on.

Xavier Bartlett hit a couple of lusty blows towards the death to keep Australia interested in the game. But Salman Mirza closed it out in the final over as Pakistan took a 1-0 lead with the 22-run win.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 168/8 in 20 overs (Saim Ayub 40, Salman Agha 39; Adam Zampa 4-24, Xavier Bartlett 2-26) beat Australia 146/8 in 20 overs (Cameron Green 36, Xavier Bartlett 34*; Abrar Ahmed 2-10, Saim Ayub 2-29) by 22 runs