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Pakistan finally prevailed over Australia, ending a 13 game losing streak that stretched across all formats of the game, to win the first T20 International by 23 runs at Edgbaston. It was a lion hearted effort by young Umar Akmal whose 64 off 31 balls ensured Pakistan reached a respectable 167/8. The Pakistani bowlers chipped in, ensuring Akmal's efforts did not go in vain as just five Australian batsmen made it to double figures. Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Aamer were the most successful, picking up 3 wickets apiece.

Pakistan kicked off the series against Australia on the right note by winning the toss and choosing to bat in the first of back to back T20 games at Edgbaston. The T20 series, will be followed immediately by a 2-match Test series, also being played on neutral ground.

The Pakistani openers Salman Butt and Shahzaib Hussain had Dirk Nannes to contend with first up on a pitch with a tinge of grass. Nannes struck off his fourth legitimate delivery when Shahzaib trying to hit the first ball he faced over mid-on found David Hussey. Wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal who usually opens the batting in this format was in next to face Shaun Tait who has been a terror with the new ball in the recent ODI series against England. Tait began with a couple of wides as he tried to generate some extra pace at the cost of direction but still managed to keep the Pakistani batsmen quiet. But Kamran was on the attack in the next over as he pulled Nannes over mid-wicket for a huge six and followed that up with cracking square drive for four. The over went for 17 runs and Pakistan were 23/1 after 3 overs. Mitchell Johnson came on to bowl and Tait swapped ends to replace the expensive Nannes as Kamran raced to 22 off 17 balls with a sedate Salman on 5 from 12 deliveries as the Pakistani run rate hovered under 8 runs at the end of the powerplay and the score reading 43/1.

Skipper Michael Clarke brought on David Hussey to bowl his off-breaks but Salman doing what he does best ‘ball watched' as Kamran set off for a tight single only to scamper back in vain. With another partner run out weighing on his mind Salman perished off the very next ball with a nothing shot to Warner at deep mid wicket. Pakistan suddenly but not surprisingly found themselves three down for 45 as skipper Shahid Afridi walked out to a delighted roar from the large contingent of Pakistani fans. However their joy was to be short lived as Afridi lasted all of one ball playing across the line to a full toss from spinner Steve Smith and Pakistan were floundering at 48/4 after 8 overs.

Pakistan had two new batsmen at the crease in the form of Shoaib Malik and the very talented younger Akmal, Umar. The latter did not let the flurry of wickets bother him as he lofted Smith for two consecutive sixes over long-on. Shoaib spanked Hussey for a couple of fours and Umar not to be left behind followed suit with a couple more. 20 runs had come off the 11th over and Pakistan had fast forwarded to 84/4 taking the fight back to the Aussies. With the spinners proving costly, Nannes was brought back for his third over as Shoaib and Umar improvised to beat the field. The 50 run partnership between the two came off 26 deliveries and Nannes eventually had his man as Shoaib trying to run the ball down to third man edged it keeper Tim Paine. The decision was referred to the third umpire who confirmed that Paine had taken the catch cleanly.

All rounder Abdul Razzaq joined Umar who by now was playing in a league of his own. He flicked Johnson for a six over square-leg and followed that up with a pull for four to fine leg. His fifty came up in 21 deliveries with the help of 6 fours and 3 sixes, the fastest half century in T20 cricket by any Pakistani batsman. At the end of the 16th over Pakistan were 137/5 with a total of 180 looking a distinct possibility if Umar and Razzak stayed till the end. Clarke sensing this brought back his strike bowler and Tait struck with his first delivery at 94 mph, bowling Razzaq with a reverse-swinging yorker to expose the Pakistani tail.

At the other end Umar continued his solo performance ensuring the run rate stayed above 8 in the company of Mohammad Aamer. But unfortunately for Pakistan he did not stay till the end as Tait bowling his final over deceived him with a slow leg cutter. An outstanding innings had come to an end and Pakistan were 153/7 with 9 deliveries to go. Incoming batsman Umar Gul was dropped by Tait at the start of the final over and capitalized on his reprieve, jabbing Nannes over mid-wicket for a much needed six. He was run out on the final ball of the innings and Pakistan finished up on 167/8 about 20 runs shorter than they would have liked.

The Aussie chase began with David Warner taking strike against Mohammad Aamer, the 18 year old being entrusted with the new ball ahead of the mercurial Shoaib Akhtar. The youngster repaid the faith shown by his skipper hitting Shane Watson pad first with his sixth delivery and Australia were 2/1 with Skipper Michael Clarke coming out to join Warner. Akhtar bowling the second over of the innings was greeted with five consecutive boundaries from Warner's bat: first over point, twice through the covers, fourth down to fine leg and finally between point and backward point!

Not surprisingly the breakthrough man for Pakistan Abdul Razzaq replaced Akhtar and he had Clarke playing uppishly through short cover with Afridi leaping to catch his counterpart. Australia at 29/2 sent out David Hussey and Akhtar was given another go from Aamer's end. It was another expensive over with Hussey dispatching the bowler for three boundaries as Australia whittled away at the total. With the ball swinging thanks to a heavy cloud cover the Pakistani fast bowlers were offering some width which prompted Afridi to bring himself and Umar Gul on with Australia requiring a further 112 from 84 balls at the end of the power play.

Hussey and Warner switched tactics as the boundaries dried up with the field restrictions lifted. They brought the target down to 91 from 60 balls as Afridi and Gul choked the runs between them. But the frustration of not finding the fence often enough eventually got to Hussey as he tried to give himself some room to hit over the top, only to find Malik in the deep. The off-spin of Saeed Ajmal was introduced after the fall of David Hussey's wicket and he bowled a quicker one to Warner who had made room for himself but did not quite know what to do with his bat. Australia were 85/4 needing a further 83 runs from 52 balls bringing in Michael Hussey who would have been hoping for a repeat of his World Cup T20 semi-final feat against the same opponents. It was the big hitting Cameron White coming in at the fall of David Hussey's wicket who thumped Ajmal for a much needed four and six over square-leg as the asking rate began to climb over 10 runs an over.

Aamer, brought back for his third over had White attempting a chip over mid-off and a prowling Afridi pulled off another great catch to dismiss the danger man bringing in Steve Smith. Hussey and Smith kept pace with the required rate, adding 23 before Aamer removed the latter as he attempted one shot too many. Australia needed a further 36 runs from 19 balls with 4 wickets in hand, and with Hussey still there, hope was in abundance.

It took a brilliant in swinging yorker from Gul to ensure there was no repeat performance by the Aussie hero, as he removed the veteran left-hander for 18. Three deliveries later he cleaned up Paine in similar fashion and Australia were 137/8 still needing 31 from 12 balls. It was Ajmal who finished the job for Pakistan as both Johnson and Tait attempting to charge down the crease were stumped by the lightening quick Kamran Akmal. In the end the total of 167 was more than sufficient as Australia finished 23 runs short with 8 balls remaining thanks to a spirited performance by the Pakistani bowlers at the death.

Mini Scoreboard:

Pakistan 167/8 (20 overs, 8.35rpo)
Umar Akmal 64 (31)             Tait 2-25
Kamran Akmal 23 (19)         Nannes 2-41

Australia 144 all out (18.4 overs, 7.71rpo)
Dave Warner 41 (31)           Ajmal 3-26
David Hussey 34 (28)          Aamer 3-27

File Photograph Copyright: ICC World T20

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