Date: January 29, 2026
Match: 1st T20 International – Pakistan vs Australia
Venue: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Result: Pakistan won by 22 runs
Series: Australia tour of Pakistan T20Is 2026
This evening’s clash between the Pakistan National Cricket Team and the Australia National Cricket Team was a high‑energy T20 match filled with power hitting, tactical bowling changes, and a thrilling contest between bat and ball. Hosted at the iconic Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan seized the initiative by setting a challenging total and then bowling cleverly to keep Australia under pressure.
Pakistan Innings – 168/8 (20 Overs)
Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first, looking to build early momentum. The openers Saim Ayub and Salman Agha provided aggressive starts, racing to strong strike rates in the powerplay. Mid‑order contributions kept the scoreboard ticking, and Pakistan ultimately posted a competitive 168 runs on a pitch that offered good balance between bat and ball.
Pakistan Batting Scorecard:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Salman Mirza | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Extras | 17 | — | — | — | — |
| Total | 168/8 | 20 Overs | — | — | — |
Pakistan’s innings saw crucial starts from Ayub and Agha, bringing pace to the innings and enabling the bowlers a decent target to defend.
Australia Innings – 146/8 (20 Overs)
With 169 to win, Australia began their chase with intent. Despite sentiments of a strong batting lineup, disciplined bowling from Pakistan kept scoring in check. Key contributions from Cameron Green and Xavier Bartlett provided resistance, but Australia couldn’t quite overtake the required rate. This helped Pakistan secure a series‑opening victory.
Australia Batting Scorecard:
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cameron Green | 36 | 31 | — | — |
| Xavier Bartlett | 34 | 25 | — | — |
| Other contributors | Combined | — | — | — |
| Total | 146/8 | 20 Overs | — | — |
Despite aggressive intent, Australia fell short by 22 runs
⭐ Key Match Moments
✔️ Strong start by Pakistan’s top order laid the foundation.
✔️ Discipline under pressure from the Pakistan bowling unit helped restrict Australia.
✔️ Middle‑overs partnership and strategic field placements shifted momentum.
🏆 Player of the Match
While individual awards are still being finalized, Pakistan’s batting effort and all‑around team performance was the standout of today’s game.
What This Win Means
- 🟢 Pakistan takes a 1–0 lead in the three‑match T20 series.
- 🔁 Both teams are using this series as final preparation for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
- 👀 Fans can expect fresh tactical battles and possible lineup changes in the next T20Is
Final Thoughts
Today’s Pakistan vs Australia T20 match was a thrilling opening to a high‑stakes series. Pakistan’s balance between explosive batting and tactical bowling emerged crucial in securing the first win. Cricket fans now look forward to the next matches in the series as both nations continue fine‑tuning ahead of the global T20 event.