Glenn Maxwell unleashes, bowlers dine out, in big T20 win for Australia againsst Pakistan

Glenn Maxwell brought the boom in the T20 international between Australia and Pakistan at the Gabba, which was reduced to a seven-over-a-side contest after bad weather delayed play.

Australia bounced back from a disappointing one-day international series loss to Pakistan with a 29-run win at the Gabba on Thursday night in the first of three T20 matches between the teams.

In a contest that was delayed by two hours and 20 minutes and shortened to seven-overs-a-side due to rain, storms and lightning, the Glenn Maxwell-inspired Australians smashed their way to 93 for the loss of only four wickets after being asked to bat first by the visitors.

Maxwell bludgeoned his way to 43 off just 19 balls in an innings that included five fours and three sixes.

A late unbeaten cameo of 21 off 10 balls from Marcus Stoinis ensured the Australians maintained their tempo after Maxwell’s dismissal.

In reply, the Pakistanis crumbled early, slumping to 5-16 in just the third over in their bid to maintain the required run-rate of more than 13 runs an over to win the game.

The tourists in the end could only manage 9-64 from their seven overs, with Abbas Afridi making an unbeaten 20.

On his home ground, Queensland and Brisbane Heat paceman Xavier Bartlett starred with the ball, taking 3-13 off just two overs.

Glenn Maxwell punished the Pakistan bowlers. Picture: Getty Images

Bartlett’s scalps included Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan, who was dismissed for a duck after being caught at point by Jake Fraser-McGurk.

Bartlett was well supported by fellow quick Nathan Ellis, who finished with the excellent figures of 3-9 off two overs.

Among Ellis’ victims was former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam, who was out for just three off two balls, with Fraser-McGurk again taking the catch.

Openers again struggle

Earlier. Australia’s white-ball openers Fraser-McGurk and Matt Short, who both failed to fire in the recently completed one-day series between the teams, were again dismissed cheaply.

Fraser-McGurk’s disappointing form continued when he was out for only nine off five balls.

Having struck two fours off the first two balls he faced, the aggressive Fraser-McGurk tried to clear the infield off the first ball of the second over, which was bowled by Naseem Shah.

However, he was caught in the covers by Babar Azam to leave Australia at 1-16.

Fraser-McGurk’s despair was obvious as he threw his head back in frustration.

Short was out in the next over for only seven off four balls, caught at fine-leg, again by Azam, off the bowling of Haris Rauf.

Rauf finished with 1-21 off two overs, while teammate Abbas Afridi took 2-9 off his only over.