Twitter Reactions: Australia thump Pakistan by 29 runs in rain-marred T20I game

Australia vs Pakistan, 1st T20I 2024. (Source – Getty Images)

After winning the ODI series, visitors Pakistan entered the first T20I against the hosts Australia, at The Gabba in Brisbane, on Thursday, November 14. The toss was delayed due to heavy lightening and showers. When the pouring stopped, the black clouds hovering above further dented the hopes of having some game. But the umpires tried to make a game despite overcast conditions and a T20I of seven overs per side was decided.

Pakistan won the toss and opted to bowl first. They managed to send back dangerous Jake Fraser McGurk in the second over for 9 off 5 and Matthew Short followed suit contributing just 7 off 4. The heavy lifting was done by Glenn Maxwell all this while and he conjured 43 off just 19 balls, laced with five boundaries and three maximums. When he got out, at that stage, the hosts were 66/3 in just 5.3 overs.

Tim David played 8 balls and accrued just 10 runs. But it was Marcus Stoinis’ show at the fag end of the innings. He scored an unbeaten 21 off just seven balls complemented by two boundaries and one maximum as Australia posted 93/4 (7 overs). For Pakistan, Abbas Afridi picked two wickets, while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf chipped in with one each. 

Australian bowlers exert pressure on Pakistan batters

Australian bowlers were all over Pakistan from the start. Sahibzada Farhan (8 off 4 balls) looked in fine touch scoring two boundaries, he was picked up on the fourth ball of the innings. Mohammad Rizwan (0 off 2 balls) was next in the line trying to swing across a fuller delivery. Babar Azam, Usman Khan and Agha Salman scored 3, 4 and 4 runs. Whereas Irfan Khan got out for a duck. The tourists were reeling at 24/6 within a matter of 3.2 overs.

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Abbas Afridi (20* off 10) played a little cameo in the end but he had an unassailable task at hand. Pakistan ended their innings on 64/9 and Australia won the first T20I by 29 runs. For Australia, Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett picked three wickets each. While Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson claimed two and one wickets, respectively.

Here’s how the fans reacted to Australia’s win in first T20I game: