Pakistan vs Australia 1st T20 Highlights: Pakistan beat Australia by 22 runs
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Jan 29, 2026, 22:58:13 IST
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Pakistan vs Australia 1st T20 Highlights: Pakistan beat Australia by 22 runs

Pakistan vs Australia 1st T20 Live Cricket Score: All-rounder Saim Ayub starred in Pakistan's spin-assisted 22-run win over Australia in the first Twenty20 international in Lahore on Thursday.
Ayub top-scored in Pakistan's 168-8 with a 22-ball 40 that included two sixes and three fours, while Salman Agha added four sixes and a four in his 27-ball 39.

The tourists managed 146-8 in their 20 overs with spinners taking six wickets for Pakistan.

With the ball, Ayub dismissed Australian openers Matthew Short (five) and Travis Head, who hit two sixes and two fours in his 13-ball 23.

Cameroon Green resisted with a 31-ball 36 but Australia succumbed to spin with Abrar Ahmed taking 2-10 while Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan took a wicket apiece.

Both teams were tuning up for the Twenty20 World Cup starting in India and Sri Lanka from February 7.
16:56 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs6.1
Score57 - 1

Matthew Short to Saim Ayub, Flights it full and on leg, swept to deep square leg for a single.

16:55 (IST) Jan 29

Different kind of spin from the other end. Matthew Short replaces Cooper Connolly.

16:54 (IST) Jan 29
Score after 6 overs 56 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
604210
  • Salman Agha 22 (19)
  • Saim Ayub 33 (16)
Mahli Beardman1-0-13-0
0
Overs5.6
Score56 - 1

Mahli Beardman to Salman Agha, Short in length, into the surface, outside off, Agha taps it to short third man. The fielder has a shy at the batter's end and hits the target. The replay shows Agha touched his blade over the crease on time.

16:53 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs5.5
Score56 - 1

Mahli Beardman to Saim Ayub, Too full and on middle, Ayub flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

16:53 (IST) Jan 29
2
Overs5.4
Score55 - 1

Mahli Beardman to Saim Ayub, Falls just in front! This is fuller and on middle, Ayub makes room and goes inside-out over extra cover. Cameron Green runs behind and dives forward but it falls yards in front of him.

16:52 (IST) Jan 29
4
Overs5.3
Score53 - 1

Mahli Beardman to Saim Ayub, FOUR! Ayub does it again! This is nonchalant! Short of a good length, straight on leg, Ayub helps with the line over short fine leg and it rolls to the fence. 50 up for Pakistan.

16:51 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs5.2
Score49 - 1

Mahli Beardman to Saim Ayub, Saim Ayub tries to play in the same region but Beardman shortens his length. Ayub plays it to short fine leg. 

16:51 (IST) Jan 29
6
Overs5.1
Score49 - 1

Mahli Beardman to Saim Ayub, SIX! Just like he hit it previously! Welcomes Mahli Beardman to the T20I circuit with a six! Pushed through, full and on leg, Saim Ayub just helps it on its way over fine leg for a six.

16:50 (IST) Jan 29
Score after 5 overs 43 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
100400
  • Salman Agha 22 (18)
  • Saim Ayub 20 (11)
Cooper Connolly2-0-13-0
0
Overs4.6
Score43 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, Fired in on the leg pole. Salman Agha swipes it straight to backward square leg fielder. After 5 overs, Pakistan are 43/1.

16:49 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs4.5
Score43 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, Darted on the leg. Salman lets it go, but it clips the pad on the way to short fine leg.

16:49 (IST) Jan 29
4
Overs4.4
Score43 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, FOUR! Nicely done! Fuller and drifting down the leg. Salman sits low and sweeps it hard toward fine leg for four runs.

16:49 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs4.3
Score39 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, Very full, just outside off. Salman shimmies down, makes room, and drills it to the extra cover fielder.

16:48 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs4.2
Score39 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, Tad short, outside off. Salman makes room and slaps it to the man at short cover.

16:48 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs4.1
Score39 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Saim Ayub, Fuller and quicker on the pad. Ayub sweeps it to deep backward square leg for one.

16:47 (IST) Jan 29
Score after 4 overs 38 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
111441
  • Saim Ayub 19 (10)
  • Salman Agha 18 (13)
Jack Edwards1-0-12-0
1
Overs3.6
Score38 - 1

Jack Edwards to Saim Ayub, Full pitcher on off. Ayub bunts it toward mid-off for a single.

16:46 (IST) Jan 29
4
Overs3.5
Score37 - 1

Jack Edwards to Saim Ayub, FOUR MORE! Two in two! Fuller than a length, outside off. Ayub shimmies down and smashes it over wide of mid-off for a cracking boundary.

16:45 (IST) Jan 29
4
Overs3.4
Score33 - 1

Jack Edwards to Saim Ayub, FOUR! Easy pickings! Pace off on a length, angling down the leg. Ayub gets inside the line and helps it toward the fine leg fence for a boundary. He made it look effortless.

16:45 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs3.3
Score29 - 1

Jack Edwards to Salman Agha, On a length, on off. Salman dabs it to the right of the backward point fielder for a single.

16:44 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs3.2
Score28 - 1

Jack Edwards to Saim Ayub, Pace off on a fullish length, around off. Ayub comes on the front foot and drives this to deep cover point for a single.

16:44 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs3.1
Score27 - 1

Jack Edwards to Salman Agha, A dipping low full, just outside off. Salman hangs back and steers it toward the backward point for a single.

16:43 (IST) Jan 29
Score after 3 overs 26 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
10161(1WD)01
  • Salman Agha 16 (11)
  • Saim Ayub 9 (6)
Matthew Short1-0-10-0
1
Overs2.6
Score26 - 1

Matthew Short to Salman Agha, Tossed up on a length, on the leg. Salman shimmies down and eases it through the gap at mid-wicket for a single.

16:42 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs2.5
Score25 - 1

Matthew Short to Salman Agha, Fuller, around off. Salman slices the drive to the man at point.

16:42 (IST) Jan 29
1wd
Overs2.5
Score25 - 1

Matthew Short to Salman Agha, WIDE! Flatter and sliding down the leg. Left alone by Salman. Wide signaled.

16:41 (IST) Jan 29
6
Overs2.4
Score24 - 1

Matthew Short to Salman Agha, SIX! Straight as an arrow! Flighted full, just outside off. Salman shimmies down, gets to the pitch of the ball, and lifts it cleanly over the bowler's head for an effortless hit.

16:41 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs2.3
Score18 - 1

Matthew Short to Saim Ayub, Tossed up on a length, on off. Ayub taps it into the off-side and takes a single.

16:40 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs2.2
Score17 - 1

Matthew Short to Saim Ayub, Flatter, slower through the air, around off. Saim Ayub mistimes the cut into the off-side.

16:40 (IST) Jan 29

Spin from both ends. Matthew Short is into the attack.

16:40 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs2.1
Score17 - 1

Matthew Short to Salman Agha, Tossed up on the leg. Salman flicks it toward short mid-wicket and a misfield allows the single.

16:39 (IST) Jan 29
Score after 2 overs 16 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
100601
  • Salman Agha 8 (7)
  • Saim Ayub 8 (4)
Cooper Connolly1-0-8-0
1
Overs1.6
Score16 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, Tossed up on the middle and leg. Salman dances down and chips it over mid-wicket for a single.

16:38 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs1.5
Score15 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, Flatter and sliding just outside the leg stump. Salman plays and misses. Wide not given since it was inside the revised guideline.

16:38 (IST) Jan 29
6
Overs1.4
Score15 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, SIX! UP AND AWAY! Tossed up full, on the middle and leg. Salman sits low and nails the slog sweep over deep square leg boundary for half a dozen.

16:37 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs1.3
Score9 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, Flatter arm ball, sliding sharply into the middle and leg stump line. Salman makes room to cut but ends up chopping onto the pitch.

16:37 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs1.2
Score9 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Salman Agha, Fuller, drifted on the pad. Salman swipes it toward backward square leg.

16:37 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs1.1
Score9 - 1

Cooper Connolly to Saim Ayub, Tossed up full, on off. Ayub sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

16:36 (IST) Jan 29

Spin from the other end. Cooper Connolly will share the attack.

16:36 (IST) Jan 29
Score after 1 over 8 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
0(W)16010
  • Salman Agha 1 (2)
  • Saim Ayub 7 (3)
Xavier Bartlett1-0-8-1
0
Overs0.6
Score8 - 1

Xavier Bartlett to Salman Agha, PEACH! Short of a good length, angles in and shapes away to beat the outside edge of Salman Agha.

16:35 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs0.5
Score8 - 1

Xavier Bartlett to Saim Ayub, Full pitcher outside off. Driven to sweeper cover for a single.

16:34 (IST) Jan 29
0
Overs0.4
Score7 - 1

Xavier Bartlett to Saim Ayub, Fuller than a length, outside off. Ayub drives it crisply and picks out the man at cover.

16:33 (IST) Jan 29
6
Overs0.3
Score7 - 1

Xavier Bartlett to Saim Ayub, SIX! BANG! On a good length, nips back into the middle and leg. Ayub dances down the pitch and smashes it over wide of long on boundary for half a dozen.

16:33 (IST) Jan 29
1
Overs0.2
Score1 - 1

Xavier Bartlett to Salman Agha, Fuller than a length, around off. Salman guides it off the outer half toward the deep third for one.

16:32 (IST) Jan 29

Skipper Salman Agha comes in at number 3.

16:31 (IST) Jan 29
W
Overs0.1
Score0 - 1

Xavier Bartlett to Sahibzada Farhan, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Dream start for Australia! Fuller than a length and a hint of swing on off. Farhan presses forward and chips it back to Bartlett who takes a simple catch. Farhan departs for a golden duck. Pakistan are rocked early. 

16:29 (IST) Jan 29

We are done with the national anthems and it's time for action. The Pakistani players are out in the middle. Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan to open for the home team. Xavier Bartlett to bowl first. Let's play...

16:14 (IST) Jan 29

Australia (Playing XI) - Travis Head (C), Matthew Short, Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw (ON DEBUT), Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe (WK), Jack Edwards (ON DEBUT), Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa, Mahli Beardman (ON DEBUT).

16:13 (IST) Jan 29

Pakistan (Playing XI) - Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Babar Azam, Salman Agha (C), Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan (WK), Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Afridi, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed. 

16:11 (IST) Jan 29
PAK vs AUS Live Score: World Cup warm-up, but uneven
In theory, three T20Is in four days in Pakistan should be ideal preparation for a subcontinent World Cup starting less than a week later.

In practice, the timing suits Pakistan more than Australia. While the hosts have their entire World Cup squad available, Australia are without several first-choice players and are managing workloads after a long Big Bash League season, limiting the series’ value as a full dress rehearsal.
16:06 (IST) Jan 29

TOSS - The coin lands in favour of the home team and Pakistan opt to BAT first.

15:51 (IST) Jan 29
PAK vs AUS Live Score: Pakistan eye settled combination before World Cup
For Pakistan, the three-match series offers a chance to finalise combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup, with the hosts having their entire World Cup squad available.

Mohammad Wasim Jnr has been added as extra pace-bowling cover, while Shaheen Shah Afridi returns from a knee injury that ruled him out of the Big Bash League.

Haris Rauf is not part of either squad, despite his strong BBL form, a decision that has drawn attention.

Much focus will also be on Babar Azam, who endured a difficult BBL season with a strike rate of 103.06 across 11 innings. How he fits into Pakistan’s batting order, which aimed for more dynamism in the recent series against Sri Lanka, remains a key talking point. With all three matches at Lahore, Pakistan will hope familiar conditions help them gain momentum before the World Cup.
15:48 (IST) Jan 29
Pakistan vs Australia Live Score: Australia test bench strength in Lahore
Australia’s playing XI for the series opener reflects a mix of experience and experimentation.

Alongside captain Travis Head, the side includes Matthew Short, Cameron Green, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Adam Zampa and Mahli Beardman.

Bartlett is the only fast bowler from Australia’s T20 World Cup squad featuring in Pakistan, highlighting the limited overlap between this touring party and the squad earmarked for the global event.

The series is being used as individual preparation for players like Head and Green, while also giving opportunities to younger players. With three matches in four days, Australia will look for clarity on roles rather than immediate results, especially with key World Cup players scheduled to join the squad closer to the tournament in Sri Lanka.
15:43 (IST) Jan 29
Pakistan vs Australia Live Score: Travis Head to captain
Travis Head will captain Australia in the first T20I against Pakistan, with regular skipper Mitchell Marsh rested after arriving in the country less than 48 hours before the match.

This will be Head’s second outing as Australia’s T20I captain, having previously led the side in England in 2024. Australia’s selectors have chosen not to treat the Pakistan series as a full-scale World Cup rehearsal, largely due to scheduling challenges following the Big Bash League.

Several senior players, including Marsh and Josh Inglis, were involved until the final day of the BBL and only departed Perth earlier this week.

Australia are also without Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Ellis, all of whom are set to join the World Cup squad in Sri Lanka. As a result, Head’s leadership and the performances of players like Cameron Green will be closely watched.
2 More Updates
Travis Head captained Australia in the first T20I against Pakistan, with regular skipper Mitchell Marsh rested after arriving in the country less than 48 hours before the match. This will be Head’s second outing as Australia’s T20I captain, having previously led the side in England in 2024.

Australia’s selectors have chosen not to treat the Pakistan series as a full-scale World Cup rehearsal, largely due to scheduling challenges following the Big Bash League. Several senior players, including Marsh and Josh Inglis, were involved until the final day of the BBL and only departed Perth earlier this week.

Australia are also without Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Tim David, Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Ellis, all of whom are set to join the World Cup squad in Sri Lanka.

As a result, Head’s leadership and the performances of players like Cameron Green will be closely watched.