A 22-run victory in the first of the T20I series against Australia brought Pakistan an end to a seven-year T20I drought at Lahore. They limited Australia to 146/8 after posting 168/8 to win the three-match series 1-0. Good all-round performances, and spin bowling saw Pakistan break the long wait and gain confidence before the T20 World Cup.
Quick Match Summary
| Category | Details |
| Match | Pakistan vs Australia, 1st T20I, Lahore |
| Date | 29 January 2026 |
| Venue | Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore |
| Toss | Pakistan won and elected to bat first |
| Pakistan Innings | 168/8 (20 overs) |
| Australia Innings | 146/8 (20 overs) |
| Result | Pakistan won by 22 runs |
| Man of the Match | Saim Ayub – 40 runs and 2 wickets |
Pakistan Breaks 7-Year Drought Against Australia
Pakistan set up the match by putting 168/8 in their 20 overs after deciding to bat first in Lahore. The innings did not begin on a positive note, with Sahibzada Farhan being dismissed after an embarrassing duck on the first ball by Xavier Bartlett, but Pakistan quickly gained momentum.
Saim Ayub opened with 40 in 22 balls, hitting the ball well and getting both boundaries and sixes, and Salman Ali Agha followed him with 39 in 27 to establish a good second-wicket partnership. Babar Azam contributed 24 and Usman Khan and Mohammad Nawaz contributed useful late runs and took Pakistan to a competitive mark.
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One of the best T20I all-rounders in the world at the moment for a reason.#PAKvAUS #fblifestyle pic.twitter.com/0t9BvsezAn
— Cricketangon (@cricketangon) January 29, 2026
Australia’s bowling attack was led by Adam Zampa, who took 4/24, and Xavier Bartlett, who also took 2 wickets, but it was not enough to keep Pakistan under par. The batting efforts by Pakistan were well utilized and posted a score that was challenging to any team.
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Australia Falls Short After Promising Start
Australia responded by giving 146 runs against 8 in their 20 overs in chase of the 169-run target, but they ended losing by 22 runs. The highest run-getters were Cameron Green (36 off 31) and Xavier Bartlett (34* off 25), who also attempted to bring Australia back to the line.
Although these personal efforts created certain opposition, Australia found it hard to create a big partnership and kept losing wickets in a bad time. The spin bowlers were particularly successful on the Pakistan bowling side. Abrar Ahmed bowled brilliantly, claiming 2/10 and Saim Ayub also claimed 2 wickets, making it tough on the batting of Australia at any point of the batting. Other bowlers also contributed by tight spells that halted the scoring rate and ensured that Pakistan kept the chase under control.
Eventually, Australia was unable to maintain the necessary run rate and was limited far earlier than the target, demonstrating how well Pakistan’s bowlers had defended their total.
Final Score & Result
| Team | Innings Score | Result |
| Pakistan | 168/8 (20 overs) | Won by 22 runs |
| Australia | 146/8 (20 overs) | Lost |
Key Statistics
| Player | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Bowling |
| Saim Ayub (Pak) | 40 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 2/29 |
| Salman Ali Agha (Pak) | 39 | 27 | 1 | 4 | – |
| Babar Azam (Pak) | 24 | 20 | 1 | 1 | – |
| Cameron Green (Aus) | 36 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0/11 |
| Xavier Bartlett (Aus) | 34* | 25 | 3 | 2 | 2/26 |
| Adam Zampa (Aus) | – | – | – | – | 4/24 |
| Abrar Ahmed (Pak) | – | – | – | – | 2/10 |
Big Win Puts Pakistan in Control
The 22-run victory of Pakistan over Australia in the first T20I was not merely a game victory. It also broke a seven-year T20I winless streak against Australia, ending that streak and providing Pakistan with an enormous confidence boost as the busy cricket season began.
Saim Ayub was the man of the match, contributing with the bat and ball to lead Pakistan to the win. Similar to his performance in the match against West Indies, he was again central to Pakistan’s end of the seven-year T20I drought against Australia.
This game now sets the tone for the remaining three-match series, with Pakistan surprising with a 1-0 lead and gaining momentum on their home turf. Meanwhile, this series will be valuable practice before the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, during which both teams will seek to refine their squads and tactics against strong opposition.
To the Pakistan team, this is a chance to establish some belief and rhythm, and Australia will seek to recover in the subsequent games and win some confidence before the big event.
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