Karachi: Loaded with new young guns teeming with sheer talent, team green outclassed the Aussies convincingly by seven wickets in the first Twenty20 played under lights yesterday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The victory was the result of mixed outstanding bowling and batting performances, a complete team effort on the whole.
After wining the toss, Pakistan opted to field first in a match where likes of match winner and spin maestro Shahid Afridi was not playing while Nasir Jamshed and Raza Hassan were making their T20 debuts.
Pakistan stepped in the ground with Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Imran Nazir, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Kamran Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, Sohail Tanvir, Raza Hassan, Umar Gul, Saeed Ajmal, all equipped with sheer talent.
Australia batting first did not managed to keep up the pace throughout the innings, failing to tackle bumpy lines and lengths of opponent’s pacers and spinners. They scored insufficient 89 runs, playing three balls short of 20 over innings quota. All the bowlers maintained their good pace and line, Sohail Tanvir took three wickets, skipper Hafeez, Ajmal and debutant Raza Hasan took two, Gul ending up with one and all with excellent economy rates.
In reply, Pakistan batting confidently right from the beginning though they lost three wickets but Kamran Akmal and Shoaib Malik cruise them to an easy win. The second match of the three match T20 Series will be played tomorrow at the same venue.