ABU DHABI: Opener Babar Azam struck an unbeaten 68 while spinner Imad Wasim capped a return to international cricket with three wickets as Pakistan crushed Australia by 66 runs in Wednesday’s opening T20 match in Abu Dhabi.



Azam hit five fours and a six in his 55-ball innings as Pakistan made 155-8 before Wasim (3-20) ripped apart Australia’s top order as they slumped to 89 all out -- their joint-third lowest T20 score -- at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

The win gave Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and also their biggest T20 victory over Australia, improving upon the 45-run win they achieved in Harare in July.

Only twice have Australia scored fewer runs in a T20 international, making just 79 against England at Southampton in 2005 and 86 in a defeat by India at Dhaka four years ago.

Left-arm spinner Wasim, playing his first match for Pakistan since October last year, bowled both Australian openers, Aaron Finch (nought) and D’Arcy Short (four), in the first over of their innings.

Medium pacer Faheem Ashraf, who finished with 2-10, then dismissed Glenn Maxwell (two) and Chris Lynn (14) to further derail the Australians.

Ben McDermott was run out without scoring before Wasim came back into the attack to dismiss Alex Carey for one, leaving Australia in tatters at 22-6.

Only a fighting knock of 34 from Nathan Coulter-Nile, the last man out, ensured Australia didn’t succumb to their lowest T20 total.

Paceman Shaheen Shah Afridi finished with 2-23 while Hasan Ali and Shadab Khan took a wicket each.

Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed praised an allround performance.

"Our bowling attack is good, so we try to put some runs on the board and back ourselves to defend," said Sarfraz.

"Babar Azam and Hafeez batted beautifully and when we bowl we always try to take wickets when we have the ball in our hands."

Finch said the defeat was embarrasing.

"It’s pretty embarrassing, to be fair," said Finch. "I think we were a little bit one-dimensional while batting, but that’s a learning experience and I would say Pakistan have got a lot of variety in their bowling."

Earlier, Pakistan were lifted by Azam and Mohammad Hafeez (39) as they added 73 for the second wicket in quick time.

But once Hafeez fell in the 14th over, Pakistan lost six wickets for just 28 runs with Sarfraz, Ashraf and Wasim falling without scoring while Shadab made just one.

It was left to Azam to keep one end intact during his sixth T20 half-century while Hasan used the long handle effectively, hitting two boundaries and a six in a handy 17 off eight balls to help add 41 in the last five overs.

Billy Stanlake (3-21) and Andre Tye (3-24) were the successful Australia bowlers.

The second and third T20 internationals will be played in Dubai on Friday and Sunday.

End of live coverage

AUSTRALIA 89/all out in 16.4 overs (PAK 155/8)



Shadab Khan to Nile, OUT

Shadab Khan to Stanlake, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Stanlake, no run

Shadab Khan to Stanlake, no run

Shadab Khan to Stanlake, no run

End of over 16: Australia 88/9

Hasan Ali to Nile, FOUR

Hasan Ali to Stanlake, 1 run

Hasan Ali to Stanlake, no run

Hasan Ali to Stanlake, no run

Hasan Ali to Nile, 1 RUN



Hasan Ali to Nile, FOUR

End of over 15: Australia 78/9

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Tye, OUT

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Tye, FOUR

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Tye, 2 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Zampa, OUT

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Zampa, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Zampa, no run

End of over 14: Australia 72/7

Shadab Khan to Nile, FOUR

Shadab Khan to Nile, FOUR

Shadab Khan to Zampa, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Zampa, no run

Shadab Khan to Nile, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Zampa, 1 run

End of over 13: Australia 60/7

Hasan Ali to Nile, no run

Hasan Ali to Zampa, 1 run

Hasan Ali to Agar, OUT

Hasan Ali to Agar, no run

Hasan Ali to Agar, FOUR

Hasan Ali to Agar, OUT, Australia has reviewed. Ball clipped the back leg, NOT OUT

End of over 12: Australia 56/6

Shadab to Agar, 1 run

Shadab to Nile, 1 run

Shadab to Agar, 1 run

Shadab to Agar, no run

Shadab to Agar, no run

Shadab to Agar, no run

End of over 11: Australia 53/6

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Agar, 1 run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Agar, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Agar, FOUR

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Nile, 1 run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Nile, FOUR

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Nile, FOUR

End of over 10: Australia 39/6



Shadab Khan to Agar, no run



Shadab Khan to Agar, no run

Shadab Khan to Nile, 1 run

Shadab Khan to Nile, no run

Shadab Khan to Nile, no run

Shadab Khan to Agar, 1 run

End of over 9: Australia 37/6

Imad Wasim to Nile, no run

Imad Wasim to Nile, 2 runs

Imad Wasim to Agar, 1 run

Imad Wasim to Nile, 1 run

Imad Wasim to Agar, 1 run

Imad Wasim to Agar, no run

End of over 8: Australia 32/6

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Agar, 1 run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Nile, 1 run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Nile, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Nile, no run

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Nile, 2 runs

Shaheen Shah Afridi to Agar, 1 run

End of over 7: Australia 27/6

Hasan Ali to Nye, no run

Hasan Ali to Nile, no run

Hasan Ali to Nile, no run

Hasan Ali to Nile, no run

Hasan Ali to Agar, 1 run

Hasan Ali to Agar, no run

End of over 6: Australia 26/6

Faheem Ashraf to Ashton Agar, 2 runs

Faheem Ashraf to Nyle, 1 run

Faheem Ashraf to Nyle, no run

Faheem Ashraf to Nyle, no run

Faheem Ashraf to Lynn, OUT, Lynn has been dismissed . Australia tumble as wickets crumble

Faheem Ashraf to Lynn, no run

End of over 5: Australia 21/5

Imad to Carey, OUT, another goes

Imad to Lynn, 1 run

Imad to Lynn, FOUR

Imad to Lynn, no run

Imad to Lynn, no run

Imad to Lynn, no run

End of over 4: Australia 16/4

Faheem Ashraf to Carey, no run

Faheem Ashraf to Ben McDermott, tight run, appeal for run out. OUT



Faheem Ashraf to Ben McDermott, no run



Faheem Ashraf to Maxwell, OUT, clean bowled

Faheem Ashraf to Maxwell, no run

Faheem Ashraf to Lynn, 1 run

End of over 3: Australia 15/2

Imad to Lynn, 1 run

Imad to Lynn, 2 runs

Imad to Lynn, no run

Imad to Maxwell, 1 run

Imad to Maxwell, no run

Imad to Maxwell, no run

End of over 2: Australia 11/2

Faheem Ashraf to Lynn, FOUR

Faheem Ashraf to Maxwell, 1 run

Faheem Ashraf to Maxwell, no run

Faheem Ashraf to Lynn, 1 run

Faheem Ashraf to Lynn, no run

Faheem Ashraf to Chris Lynn, no run

End of over 1 : Australia 5/2

Imad Wasim to Short, OUT, inside edge and onto the middle stump.

Imad Wasim to Short, FOUR

Imad Wasim to Chris Lynn, 1 run

Imad Wasim to Finch, OUT, the Australian captain gone for duck after ball smashes into the stumps.

Imad Wasim to Finch, no run

Imad Wasim to Finch, no run

Aaron Finch and D'Arcy Short out in the middle to begin the chase

Austria will begin the chase shortly.

Babar Azam struck 55-ball 68 as Pakistan posted 155/8 in their first Twenty20 match against Australia at Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium in UAE on Wednesday.

End of over 20: Pakistan 155/8

Nile to Hasan Ali, 1 run

Nile to Babar Azam, 1 run

Nile to Hasan Ali, 1 run

Nile to Hasan Ali, FOUR

Nile to Hasan Ali, SIX

Nile to Hasan Ali, FOUR

End of over 19: Pakistan 138/8

Tye to Babar Azam, 2 runs

Tye to Hasan Ali, 1 run

Tye to Babar Azam, 1 run

Tye to Hasan Ali, no run

Tye to Hasan Ali, no run, appeal for catch, Australia gone for a review. NOT OUT

Tye to Imad Wasim, another bites the dust, gone

End of over 18: 133/7

Stanlake to Babar Azam, no run

Stanlake to Shadab Khan, OUT, another gone goes

Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run

Stanlake to Shadab Khan, 1 run

Shadab Khan walk in to bat

Stanlake to Sarfraz, OUT, LBW and it's given. Sarfraz goes for the review. It's out

Stanlake to Babar, 1 run

End of over 17: Pakistan 130/5

Tye to Sarfraz, no run

Sarfraz Ahmed is in

Tye to Faheem, OUT, gone first ball

Faheem Ashraf is in

Tye to Hussain Talat, OUT, good catch near the boundary

Tye to Hussain Talat, 2 runs, good running

Tye to Hussain Talat, 2 runs

Tye to Babar, 1 run

End of over 16: Pakistan 125/3

Nile to Babar Azam,1 run

Nile to Babar Azam, no run

Nile to Babar Azam, 2 runs

Nile to Hussain Talat, 1 run

Nile to Babar Azam, 1 run

Nile to Babar Azam, SIX, it's a gigantic hit for six

End of over 15: Pakistan 114/3

Zampa to Hussain Talat, FOUR, it's missfield and four

Zampa to Hussain Talat, no run

Hussain Talat walks in to bat

Zampa to Asif Ali, OUT, LBW and it's given.

Zampa to Asif Ali, no run

Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run

Zampa to Babar, 2 runs, that's fifty for Babar Azam off 42 devilries.

End of over 14: Pakistan 107/2

Short to Asif Ali, 2 runs

Asif Ali walks in to bat

Short to Hafeez, OUT, Hafeez has to go. mistimed the hit

Short to Hafeez, no run

Short to Babar, 1 run

Short to Hafeez, 1 run

Short to Babar, 1 run

End of over 13: Pakistan 102/1



Zampa to Babar, 1 run

Zampa to Babar, no run

Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run

Zampa to Hafeez, SIX

Zampa to Hafeez, no run

Zampa to Babar, 1 run

End of over 12: Pakistan 93/1

Short to Babar, 1 run

Short to Babar, FOUR

Short to Hafeez, 1 run

Short to Babar, 1 run

Short to Babar, no run

Short to Hafeez, 1 run

End of over 11: Pakistan 85/1

Tye to Babar, FOUR

Tye to Hafeez, 1 run

Tye to Babar, 1 run

Tye to Babar, no run

Tye to Hafeez, 1 run

Tye to Babar, 1 run

End of over 10: Pakistan 77/1

Zampa to Babar, 1 run

Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run

Zampa to Babar, 1 run

Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run

Zampa to Hafeez, FOUR



Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run

End of over 9: Pakistan 68/1

Agar to Babar Azam, 1 run

Agar to Hafeez, 1 run

Agar to Hafeez, 2 runs

Agar to Hafeez, SIX, first six of the evening

Agar to Babar Azam, 1 run

Agar to Hafeez, 1 run

End of over 8: Pakistan 56/1

Adam Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run

Adam Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run

Adam Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run

Adam Zampa to Hafeez, 2 runs

Adam Zampa to Babar Azam, 1 run

Adam Zampa to Hafeez, 1 run

End of over 7: Pakistan 49/1

Stanlake to Hafeez, 1 run

Stanlake to Hafeez, dot ball

Stanlake to Hafeez, no run

Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run



Stanlake to Hafeez, 1 run, bye

Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run

End of over 6: Pakistan 45/1

Ashton Agar to Babar Azam, 1 run

Ashton Agar to Babar Azam, no run, appeal for LBW.

Ashton Agar to Hafeez, 1 run

Ashton Agar to Hafeez, no run

Ashton Agar to Babar Azam, 1 run

Ashton Agar to Babar Azam, FOUR, great timing

End of over 5: Pakistan 38/1

Stanlake to Hafeez, no run

Stanlake to Hafeez, FOUR



Stanlake to Hafeez, no run

Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run

Stanlake to Babar Azam, wide, 1 run

Stanlake to Babar Azam, no run

Stanlake to Zaman, OUT, miscued and it's wonderfully taken. Fakhar was struggling to middle the ball. Australia gets the breakthrough.

End of over 4: Pakistan 32/0

Tye to Fakhar Zaman, 3 runs

Tye to Babar Azam, 1 run

Tye to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run, in the air and just got cleared the fine leg. Risky shot.

Tye to Fakhar Zaman, no run

Tye to Babar Azam, 1 run

Tye to Babar Azam, no run

End of over 3: Pakistan 26/0

Nile to Babar Azam, 1 run

Nile to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run



Nile to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR, Fakhar connects finally and the ball races away for a boundary

Coulter-Nile to Babar Azam, 1 run



Nile to Babar Azam, FOUR, what a shot!

Coulter-Nile to Babar Azam, no run



End of over 2: Pakistan 15/0

Billy Stanlake to Fakhar Zaman, FOUR, edge and over the keeper's head for four.

Billy Stanlake to Babar Azam, 1 run

Billy Stanlake to Babar Azam, FOUR, first boundary of the night. Good shot

Billy Stanlake to Babar Azam, no run

Billy Stanlake to Babar Azam, no run

Billy Stanlake to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run, bye

End of over 1: Pakistan 5/0

Nile to Babar Azam, no run

Nile to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run

Nile to Fakhar Zaman, no run

Nile to Babar Azam, three runs, great shot!

Nile to Fakhar Zaman, 1 run, bye

Nile to Fakhar Zaman, no run

Coulter-Nile gets the first over.



21:10: The lights are making their way back



The floodlights have gone. A delay in the start of play.



Babar Azam and Fakhar to open the batting for Pakistan. Pakistan need one win to stay at the top of T20 rankings while Australia need a clean sweep to dethrone Pakistan from the top position.

National anthems being played at the stadium.

Australia have won the toss and elected to field first against Pakistan in the first Twenty20 (T20) match at Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium.



They are unchanged from their previous T20I, against UAE. Shoaib Malik won't be playing today. But Imad Wasim is in after a long gap.



Aaron Finch said he backed his bowlers to keep Pakistan to a score the batsmen were comfortable chasing. Australia have gone with the same line-up that beat the UAE in Monday, which means there is no place for vice-captain Mitchell Marsh in the starting XI, while Mitchell Starc, isn't fit enough to start.

Squads

Pakistan: Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Hussain Talat, Sarfraz Ahmed (capt, wk), Mohammad Hafeez, Asif Ali, Imad Wasim, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi

Australia: Aaron Finch (capt), D'Arcy Short, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Alex Carey (wk), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Billy Stanlake

Hello and welcome to Abu Dhabi Cricket Stadium. Pakistan and Australia are set to clash in the first Twenty20 (T20) match.



ABU DHABI: Pakistan’s number one ranking will be at stake when Sarfraz Ahmed-led squad take on Australia today in first encounter of the three-match T20 series being played in UAE.



Sarfraz led Pakistan to a tri-series triumph by beating Australia in the final at Harare in July this year and needs to win at least one match to remain at the top of the rankings.



ICC Preview: Australia have a chance to overhaul Pakistan and attain top position in the ICC T20I Team Rankings for the first time when the two face off. It’s no straightforward task, however – Australia require a 3-0 series sweep to jump to the top of the tree – but a lesser series victory would see them edge past India into second position. So Pakistan only need to triumph in one outing to retain their crown. An Australia whitewash would see them become the eighth side to attain top ranking in the T20I format, with England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the Windies the previous teams to lead the way.

Pakistan will be without senior batsman Shoaib Malik who was with his tennis star wife Sania Mirza in India for the birth of their first child.

"Malik will join the team on Wednesday but will not be part of the eleven, so we are ready for Australia who are a very strong Twenty20 side," said Sarfraz.

Australia, who beat Pakistan in the group match of the tri-series, need to win 3-0 if they want to jump from their current third position to the top.

Since Sarfraz took over captaincy, Pakistan have won 23 of the 27 matches they have played -- a momentum the skipper wants to maintain.

"We know that Australia have good bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Billy Stanlake and hitters in Chris Lynn and D’Arcy Short so we have to be at our best to beat them," said Sarfraz.

Stanlake took 4-8 in a lively spell in Australia’s victory in the tri-series group game.

Australia will also have some fresh players after losing the two-match Test series 1-0 last week, also played in United Arab Emirates.

Their Twenty20 skipper Aaron Finch said his team was motivated enough to win the series.

"Pakistan played very well against us in July," said Finch. "We got the better off them in the first game but they battled back in the last two. They are world number one at the moment and they are world number one for a reason."

"They played some great cricket in the last two years in this format so I think it will be a great contest."

Finch played down the bounty of getting to the top of the rankings in case they win all the matches.

"I think any time you play anyone in a different country it’s massively important and everyone wants to win," said Finch, who has won eight of the 16 matches, losing the other eight since in charge for four years.

"If number one rankings are on the line or anyone down the list, each game is important. Everyone wants to win. I don’t think they need any motivation than that and we don’t need it."

Teams:

Pakistan: Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hafeez, Babar Azam, Asif Ali, Hussain Talat, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Hassan Ali, Imad Wasim, Faheem Ashraf

Australia (from): Aaron Finch (captain), Mitchell Marsh (vice-capt), Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D’Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

Umpires: Ahsan Raza (PAK) and Shozab Raza (PAK)

Tv umpire: Asif Yaqoob (PAK)

Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)