**AUS Beats PAK By 20 Runs In 1st T20I**

Tecfai Editorial Team

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Post on Nov 15, 2024

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AUS Beats PAK by 20 Runs in 1st T20I: Green's 4-fer and Stoinis' Blitz Lead Australia to Victory

Australia kicked off their T20I series against Pakistan with a resounding 20-run victory in the first match played at the Gabba in Brisbane. The hosts displayed a dominant performance, thanks to a sensational bowling effort led by Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, coupled with a late flourish from Marcus Stoinis with the bat.

Australia's Bowling Dominance Sets the Stage

Australia's bowlers were on fire right from the start, putting Pakistan under immense pressure from the very first over. Mitchell Starc, the left-arm pace spearhead, started the proceedings with a bang, sending back Fakhar Zaman in the first over. Josh Hazlewood, the other senior pacer, continued the onslaught, dismissing Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in quick succession.

The early wickets put Pakistan in a deep hole, and they struggled to recover throughout the innings. Matthew Wade, behind the stumps, was instrumental in orchestrating the wickets, taking some crucial catches and effecting a run-out.

Mitchell Marsh joined the party, picking up the crucial wicket of Haider Ali, while Josh Hazlewood returned to claim his third wicket, dismissing Iftikhar Ahmed. Pakistan's innings never really got going, and they finished their allotted 20 overs on a dismal 147/7, well short of the target.

Green's 4-fer Completes the Bowling Dominance

Cameron Green, the young all-rounder, played a vital role in dismantling Pakistan's batting order. He picked up four crucial wickets, including the wickets of Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, and finished with figures of 4/22. His performance solidified Australia's dominance with the ball and put Pakistan in a precarious position.

Stoinis' Blitz Power's Australia to Victory

Chasing a modest target of 148, Australia started cautiously, with Aaron Finch and David Warner laying a solid foundation. However, the scoring rate was slow, and Pakistan kept themselves in the game.

It was Marcus Stoinis who turned the tide in Australia's favor. He came in at number five and unleashed a brutal assault on the Pakistan bowlers. His blistering innings of 48 off 28 balls, which included six boundaries and three sixes, propelled Australia towards victory.

Stoinis's late onslaught, coupled with some sensible contributions from other batsmen, ensured Australia secured the win with five balls to spare.

Key Takeaways from the Match:

• Australia's bowling attack proved to be too strong for Pakistan. The relentless pace and accuracy from Starc, Hazlewood, and Green kept Pakistan's batsmen under constant pressure.
• Marcus Stoinis played a crucial role in securing the victory for Australia. His explosive batting performance came at a crucial juncture and helped Australia to accelerate the run-rate.
• Pakistan's batting was disappointing. They failed to build any partnerships and were undone by a combination of good bowling and poor shot selection.

The win gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. The second match will be played at the MCG in Melbourne on November 5th. It will be interesting to see if Pakistan can bounce back from this loss and level the series in the next match.