Australia v Pakistan T20 as it happened: Seventh heaven as Aussies win shortened Gabba clash

Glenn Maxwell went berserk with the bat, then Xavier Bartlett ripped apart Pakistan’s top order as Australia dominated a seven-over Gabba Twenty20 slog to win by 29 runs.

Lightning and heavy rain reduced Thursday’s series opener in Brisbane to a seven-overs-a-side contest and it was one-way traffic as soon as Maxwell (43 off 19) strode to the crease.

Glenn Maxwell hits the ball over the boundary for a six during game one of the Men’s T20 series between Australia and Pakistan at The Gabba.Credit: Getty Images

His brazen innings featured boundaries to all corners of the ground, before Marcus Stoinis chimed in with 21 off seven balls, including 10 off the final two balls of the innings as Australia finished 3-93.

The visitors could only muster 9-64 in their allotment as Australia took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Pakistan had bossed the hosts in their last two 50-over contests, losing just three wickets combined on their way to an impressive series win.

But their batsmen came unstuck on Thursday, Queensland opener Bartlett (3-13) taking two wickets in a four-run second over to set the tone.

He got Mohammad Rizwan with his first delivery, the captain’s ambitious slog sweep backfiring to put Pakistan on the back foot.

Xavier Bartlett of Australia celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Usman Khan.Credit: Getty Images

Nathan Ellis (3-9) was just as effective, taking 2-4 in the next over as the visitors slumped to 5-16.

Barlett’s third wicket was the icing on the cake, the 25-year-old now boasting nine wickets in five T20 internationals.

Adam Zampa then got into the action, taking two wickets in the final over that began with Pakistan needing 41 for victory.

Maxwell entered the match with scores of 0, 16 and 0 in Australia’s 50-over series loss.

He reverse paddled his first delivery for four, one of four boundaries in his first six deliveries.

The Victorian flushed another reverse paddle that went over the head of the man on the rope and narrowly missed an unsuspecting spectator in the third row.

Australia’s Tim David, and Aaron Hardie are congratulated by Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam.Credit: AP

The mercurial dasher then heaved a six over mid-wicket and another over mid-off from Haris Rauf’s second over, racing to 40 off 15.

A frenetic innings was halted by a well-aimed Abbas Afridi bouncer, Maxwell hurried as he found the man on the rope.

Earlier, opening pair Matt Short (seven) and Jake Fraser McGurk’s (nine) lean runs at international level continued.

McGurk, who clipped his first two balls to the boundary, threw his head back in disgust after drilling a catch to point.

Game two is in Sydney on Saturday, with Hobart to host the final fixture on Monday.

AAP

A 14-over match doesn’t reveal everything about two teams, but tonight’s clash offered plenty of intel about Australia and Pakistan. Australia’s new-look T20 team, led by Josh Inglis, had good form across the board, with Glenn Maxwell typically leading the way with a rapid-fire knock.

Pakistan, in contrast, was a little flaky. Their runs chase started well enough but they panicked too quickly. Australia spotted weaknesses, pounced and easily wrapped up the win.

Australia 4-93, Pakistan 9-64. Australia win by 29 runs

How Glenn Maxwell went out.Credit: Fox Cricket

Zampa cashes in, taking two wickets with the final two balls.

Pakistan finish on 9-64 in their run chase, a run chase that quickly fell in a heap.

Australia’s 7-93 was simply too big of an ask.

Australia turn to spin. Adam Zampa will get the chance bowl the final and 14th over of this curious cricket clash.

Pakistan has done remarkable well to steady their innings and avoid the humiliation of being bowled out.

The tourists are showing some resistance. They’ve put on at least 20 runs for the seventh wicket. Good, gutsy cricket. Victory is beyond them but they’re making the result respectable.

Haseebullah Khan and Abbas Afridi are finding the boundaries.

Few teams could find themselves bowled out in a seven-over innings, but Pakistan will probably manage it.

In a matter of minutes they’ve gone from a steady start, scoring 11 runs in the first over, to slumping to 6-24. Australia are expected to bowl them out now in a subdued finish to a potentially high-octane clash.

Yet another one goes. Pakistan slump to 5-16 and they’ve lost three wickets in a couple of balls.

The runs chase is no longer a reality. This is quite an over from Nathan Ellis.

Pakistan 5-16, 2.3 overs

Josh Inglis and Nathan Ellis (right).Credit: AP

Pakistan in deep trouble. Babar Azam holes out in the deep.

The tourists creep to 4-16 in just the third over

That’s a third wicket to go .… it’s happening too quickly. Pakistan can’t afford this.

Usman Khan was the one to go.

Pakistan 3-16

Muhammad Rizwan goes for a duck. He only faced two balls. Pakistan two wickets down early.