Ayub’s Stellar Performance Seals Victory for Pakistan in 1st T20I Against Australia

Saim Ayub delivered an impressive all-round performance, leading Pakistan to a 22-run victory over a predominantly second-string Australian team in the first Twenty20 international held in Lahore on Thursday.

Opting to bat first against an Australian squad under the temporary captaincy of Travis Head and featuring three newcomers, Pakistan set a challenging target of 168-8, with Ayub contributing a top score of 40.

In response, Australia could only reach 146-8, bolstered by an unbeaten 34 off 25 balls from their number 10 batter, Xavier Bartlett.

Earlier in the match, Pakistan’s opener Sahibzada Farhan was out for a first-ball duck, but Ayub, along with the team captain Salman Agha (39), stabilized the innings with a 74-run partnership.

Australia’s leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4-24) played a crucial role by dismissing both Ayub and Salman, later claiming the wickets of Babar Azam (24) and Usman Khan (18), preventing Pakistan from reaching a total likely over 175.

Ayub continued to pose challenges for Australia as they began their chase. The off-spinner took the wicket of Matthew Short in his first over and delivered a significant blow in his second by dismissing Head (23), who was leading the team in the absence of regular captain Mitchell Marsh, who arrived late due to Big Bash commitments in Australia.

Compounding the troubles for the visiting side, both Matt Renshaw and Mitchell Owen were run out.

Mohammad Nawaz effectively secured the victory for Pakistan when the left-arm spinner ended Green’s promising innings of 36 in the 13th over.

Bartlett entertained with two sixes during his innings, which only served to narrow the margin of Australia’s defeat.

The remaining two matches of the series, serving as a warm-up for the upcoming T20 World Cup, are scheduled to take place at the same venue on Saturday and Sunday.

Published on January 29, 2026.