Cricket: Australia thumped by Pakistan in opening T20

The tourists got off to a nightmare start when Finch was clean-bowled by Imad for a third-ball duck while attempting to play off his back foot.

Opening partner D’Arcy Short played onto his stumps three balls later and Glenn Maxwell lasted just seven balls before being dismissed in dismal fashion, slashing at a delivery from paceman Faheem Ashraf which knocked over his middle stump.

Second-gamer Ben McDermott’s nervous pursuit of a quick single ended in a run out to leave Australia 16/4, while Imad soon had his third wicket luring Alex Carey into an edge with a delivery which deviated slightly and stayed low.

Lynn’s dismissal brought Coulter-Nile to the crease, and he and Agar steadied the ship until Agar nicked to Hasan Ali.

Everything was going right for Pakistan, including Hasan’s spectacular outstretched catch on the boundary to see off Adam Zampa.

Australia’s innings ended unceremoniously with Coulter-Nile bowled by Shadab Khan after inadvertently throwing his bat in an attempted slog.

Australia’s bowlers earlier held up their end of the bargain to restrict the world’s No 1-ranked T20 side to 155/8 from 20 overs.

Pace duo Billy Stanlake (3-21) and Andrew Tye (3-24) did the bulk of the damage, with Stanlake using his pace and height to devastating effect.

White-ball superstar Babar Azam finished unbeaten on 68 while Mohammad Hafeez crunched two sixes on the way to 39.

Australia named an unchanged XI from Monday’s seven-wicket victory over the UAE, again omitting Test squad members Mitch Marsh, Nathan Lyon, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc.

AAP

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