Pakistan vs Australia 1st T20 Match Highlights | Pak Won By 22 Runs
Cricket fans around the world always get excited when Pakistan takes on Australia. The Pak vs. Aus rivalry has given us many great moments over the years. In the world of T20 cricket, Pakistan vs Australia T20 matches are full of action, big hits, and tight finishes. On January 29, 2026, we saw another chapter in this story as Pakistan hosted Australia in the first T20I at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
This Aus vs Pak game was special because it marked the start of a three-match series, and Pakistan came out on top with a solid win. If you missed the live score Pak vs Aus, don’t worry – this blog will take you through everything that happened.
The Toss and Decision
The toss happened under clear skies, and Pakistan won it. Salman Agha chose to bat first, thinking the pitch would be good for setting a big score. The crowd was buzzing as the players walked out. Pakistan’s openers, Sahibzada Farhan and Saim Ayub, started against Australia’s attack led by Xavier Bartlett.
Pakistan’s Batting Innings Brings Early Shock and Recovery
Right from the first ball, things got dramatic. Farhan was out for a duck, caught and bowled by Bartlett. Pakistan were 0/1 after just one ball. But Saim Ayub and Salman Agha steadied things with an aggressive partnership. Ayub played some lovely shots, hitting three fours and two sixes in his 40 off 22 balls. Agha supported with 39 off 27, including one four and four sixes. Their 74-run stand for the second wicket set a good base.
Middle Order Contributions
After Ayub fell in the eighth over, Babar Azam came in and played a steady knock of 24 off 20. He hit one four and one six, keeping the run rate up. Fakhar Zaman struggled a bit, making 10 off 16, but Usman Khan added 18 off 14 with two fours. The lower order chipped in: Mohammad Nawaz was not out on 15 off 14 with one six, and Salman Mirza hit a quick 4 not out off 2 balls.
Australia’s Bowling Performance
Australia’s bowlers did well to pull things back. Adam Zampa was the star, taking 4/24 in four overs. He got key wickets like Ayub, Agha, Zaman, and Khan. Bartlett took 2/26, and Mahli Beardman also grabbed 2/33. The others, like Cooper Connolly and Jack Edwards, went for runs but kept the pressure on. Pakistan ended at 168/8, a decent score on a pitch that seemed to slow down a bit. Extras helped with 17 runs, mostly wides.
Australia’s Chase Begins with Explosive Start
Now, for the chase. Australia needed 169, which was chaseable in T20 cricket. Their openers, Matthew Short and Travis Head, started fast. Head hit two fours and two sixes in his 23 off 13. But Saim Ayub, bowling spin, struck twice early. He got Short for 5 and then Head, caught by Babar Azam.
Middle Order Struggles
Cameron Green anchored with 36 off 31, hitting three fours and one six. Matt Renshaw made 15 off 11 with a four and a six. But wickets kept falling. Cooper Connolly was out for 0, Mitchell Owen for 8, Josh Philippe for 12, and Jack Edwards for 5.
Late Resistance but Shortfall
The lower order fought back. Xavier Bartlett played a brave, unbeaten 34 off 25 with three fours and two sixes. Adam Zampa was not out on 5 off 10. But it wasn’t enough. Australia finished at 146/8, 22 runs short.
Pakistan’s Bowling Mastery
Pakistan’s bowlers shared the spoils. Abrar Ahmed was tight with 2/10 in four overs. Saim Ayub took 2/29, Mohammad Nawaz 1/25, and Shadab Khan 1/25. Shaheen Afridi and Salman Mirza didn’t take wickets but bowled well. Saim Ayub got Player of the Match for his all-round show: 40 with the bat and 2/29 with the ball.
Match Statistics: Batting and Bowling Tables
To give you a clear picture, here are the tables for batting and bowling from both teams.
Pakistan Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Sahibzada Farhan | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Saim Ayub | 40 | 22 | 3 | 2 | 181.81 |
| Salman Agha (c) | 39 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 144.44 |
| Babar Azam | 24 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 120.00 |
| Fakhar Zaman | 10 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Usman Khan (wk) | 18 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 128.57 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 15* | 14 | 0 | 1 | 107.14 |
| Shadab Khan | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Shaheen Afridi | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Salman Mirza | 4* | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Extras | 17 | (b 2, lb 2, nb 1, w 12) | |||
| Total | 168/8 | 20 overs | RR: 8.40 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-0 (Farhan, 0.1), 2-74 (Ayub, 7.4), 3-86 (Agha, 9.2), 4-123 (Azam, 13.5), 5-140 (Zaman, 15.4), 6-149 (Khan, 17.5), 7-160 (Shadab, 19.3), 8-160 (Afridi, 19.4)
Australia Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Xavier Bartlett | 4 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 6.50 |
| Cooper Connolly | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 7.33 |
| Matthew Short | 2 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 11.50 |
| Jack Edwards | 2 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 12.50 |
| Mahli Beardman | 4 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 8.25 |
| Adam Zampa | 4 | 0 | 24 | 4 | 6.00 |
| Cameron Green | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 |
Australia Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Matthew Short | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Travis Head (c) | 23 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 176.92 |
| Cameron Green | 36 | 31 | 3 | 1 | 116.12 |
| Matt Renshaw | 15 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 136.36 |
| Cooper Connolly | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mitchell Owen | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Josh Philippe (wk) | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 120.00 |
| Jack Edwards | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Xavier Bartlett | 34* | 25 | 3 | 2 | 136.00 |
| Adam Zampa | 5* | 10 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Extras | 3 | (b 1, w 2) | |||
| Total | 146/8 | 20 overs | RR: 7.30 |
Fall of Wickets: 1-21 (Short, 1.5), 2-28 (Head, 3.2), 3-68 (Renshaw, 7.1), 4-68 (Connolly, 7.3), 5-80 (Owen, 10.1), 6-96 (Green, 12.2), 7-105 (Edwards, 13.5), 8-112 (Philippe, 15.4)
Pakistan Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Shaheen Afridi | 3 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 9.66 |
| Saim Ayub | 3 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 9.66 |
| Salman Mirza | 3 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Shadab Khan | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Abrar Ahmed | 4 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 2.50 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 |
This win gives Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the series. It boosts their confidence after recent losses to Australia. The next matches will be exciting as Australia looks to bounce back.
Fans on social media were active during the match. Many praised Saim Ayub’s all-round effort. Some joked about Australia’s losing streak ending – wait, no, Pakistan ended their own losing streak! The Aus vs Pak clash always trends high.
FAQs
The match was exciting from start to finish. Pakistan batted first and scored 168 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs. They had a rough start, losing an early wicket, but partnerships helped them reach a good total. Australia, in reply, managed 146 for 8 wickets in 20 overs, falling short by 22 runs. The live score Pak vs Aus showed Pakistan was always in control after the midway point.
Saim Ayub was named Player of the Match, and he deserved it fully. He scored 40 runs off 22 balls with the bat, hitting 3 fours and 2 sixes, which gave Pakistan a strong start after an early loss. Then, with the ball, he took 2 key wickets for 29 runs in 3 overs, including the dangerous Travis Head.
Adam Zampa was Australia's best bowler by far. He took 4 wickets for 24 runs in his 4 overs, with an economy of 6.00. He dismissed important batters like Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Fakhar Zaman, and Usman Khan.
Spinners were crucial on both sides. For Pakistan, Abrar Ahmed took 2/10 in 4 overs, the most economical spell. Shadab Khan got 1/25, Mohammad Nawaz 1/25, and Saim Ayub 2/29. They controlled the run rate and took key wickets. For Australia, Adam Zampa's 4/24 was outstanding. The pitch at Lahore helped spin, making it hard for batters to score freely.
Pakistan won because of better all-round play. Their batting recovered from an early wicket to post 168, thanks to quick starts and lower-order fight. Bowling was tight, especially in the middle, where Australia lost wickets regularly.
This win gives Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, boosting their morale after recent losses to Australia. It shows they can compete at home against a strong side, even if Australia was missing some stars. For Australia, it's a wake-up call to improve batting depth and adapt to conditions. The next games could be closer if Australia adjusts.
What was the final score in the Pakistan vs. Australia T20 match on January 29, 2026?
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Final Words!
In the end, the Pak vs Aus tT20match on January 29, 2026, was a great start to the series. Pakistan’s 22-run win showed their strength at home, breaking an eight-year drought against Australia. Saim Ayub’s all-round heroics stood out, while Adam Zampa’s bowling kept it close.
The game had everything: big hits, tight bowling, and drama. It reminds us why cricket is loved worldwide. As the series goes on, expect more thrills in the Aus vs Pak clashes. Pakistan fans are happy, but Australia will fight back.
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