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New Delhi: Pakistan produced a clinical performance to register a commanding 22-run win over Australia in the opening match of the three-T20I series in Lahore's Gadaffi Stadium on Thursday.
In the final tune-up for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Australia are visiting Pakistan for a short T20I assignment and, judging by their performance in the first game have a lot of work to do to sharpen up for the marquee event, starting in India and Sri Lanka on February 7.
Chasing a gettable target of 169, Australia kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually restricted to 146 for 8 in 20 overs. In a star-studded batting line-up, no. 9 batter Xavier Bartlett finished as the second-highest scorer with 34* while all-rounder Cameron Green was the top-scorer with 36.
Travis Head (23) and Matt Renshaw (15) both got starts but failed to carry on as Pakistan continued to chip away with wickets and never allowed the Australian innings to gain momentum.
The victory in Lahore also broke Pakistan's seven-game losing streak against the Aussies that lasted seven years.
Abrar Ahmed and Saim Ayub picked up two wickets each, with the former impressing the most after conceding just 10 runs in his quota of four overs.
Ayub, meanwhile, backed up his 40 with the bat with a crucial bowling spell.
Earlier, Pakistan posted a decent 168 for 8, thanks to useful contributions from Ayub and the skipper, Salman Agha (39), after opting to bat against an Australian side, which looked extremely rusty and lacklustre in both innings.
The visitors were sloppy in the field, conceding a whopping 17 extras, including 12 wides, to aid Pakistan's cause.
Western Australian quick Mahli Beardman impressed on his debut with a two-wicket haul, but the star of the show was Adam Zampa. The seasoned leg-spinner returned with excellent figures of 4 for 24 in 4 overs, including crucial wickets of Babar Azam (24), Agha and Ayub.
The second match will be played at the same venue on Saturday, followed by the final T20I on Sunday. After the series' conclusion, both teams are reportedly expected to depart for Sri Lanka to participate in the T20 World Cup.
