Rain and lightning may have delayed the game at the Gabba, but when it finally started, Australia wasted no time showing their dominance. In a seven-over match, Australia handed Pakistan a heavy 29-run defeat, with Glenn Maxwell stealing the show with a blistering 43 off 19 balls.
Match Summary
Australia: 93/4 (Maxwell 43, Stoinis 21*, Afridi 2-9)
Pakistan: 64/9 (Afridi 20*, Ellis 3-9, Bartlett 3-13)
Result: Australia won by 29 runs.
Maxwell’s Blazing Start
After Pakistan won the toss and opted to field, Australia came out with a clear plan: attack every ball. Despite a slow start against Haris Rauf, Maxwell quickly found his rhythm, deploying his signature reverse slogs and capitalizing on the bowlers’ pace.
- Shaheen Afridi’s first over went for 16 runs, setting the tone for Australia’s innings.
- Maxwell smashed 19 runs off Rauf’s second over, including a spectacular six over third man.
- Contributions from Tim David and Marcus Stoinis helped Australia finish with a strong 93/4.
Pakistan’s Batting Collapse
Chasing 94, Pakistan had a disastrous start.
- Sahibzada Farhan hit two boundaries in the first two balls but was dismissed shortly after.
- A flurry of wickets saw Pakistan lose five batters in just 12 balls for eight runs.
- Key players, including Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, fell cheaply, leaving Pakistan reeling at 24/6 within four overs.
Nathan Ellis and Xavier Bartlett were instrumental in dismantling Pakistan’s top order, while Adam Zampa cleaned up the tail with consecutive wickets in the final over.
Shaheen Afridi’s Late Resistance
Shaheen Afridi added some respectability to the innings with an unbeaten 20, including a six off Zampa. However, it was too little too late as Pakistan managed only 64/9 by the end of their seven overs.
Final Thoughts
This rain-shortened game highlighted Australia’s aggressive approach and Pakistan’s struggles with their top order. Glenn Maxwell’s return to form was the standout performance, giving Australia a morale boost after a challenging ODI series.