Australia beat Pakistan by 29 runs: First T20 – as it happened

That’s it for our live coverage of this first T20I in Brisbane.

It was an exercise in patience, but the rain finally relented and we got a blockbuster 14 overs of cricket.

We’ll be back on Saturday for the next match in Sydney. For now, from Adam Hancock and Hafsa Adil, goodbye!

We’re about to wrap up our live coverage of this first T20 between Australia and Pakistan but there’s plenty of sporting action to come on Al Jazeera this weekend.

Here’s a look at what you can expect:

• Mike Tyson vs Jake Paul – heavyweight boxing fight: Live coverage begins at 00:00 GMT on Saturday, November 16. Read our concise guide to the bout.
• Indonesia vs Japan – Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026: Live coverage begins at 09:00 GMT on Friday, November 15.
• South Africa vs India – fourth T20 international: Live coverage begins at 12:00 GMT on Friday, November 15.
• Australia vs Pakistan – second T20 international: Live coverage begins at 05:00 GMT on Saturday, November 16.
• Italy vs France – National League football: Live coverage begins at 16:45 GMT on Sunday, November 17.

Thunder, lightning and a fair bit of rain left us with a seven-over affair in Brisbane. But let’s hope for better weather in Sydney for the second T20 international on Saturday.

Australia and Pakistan will be back in action at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The weather is set fair for Saturday afternoon, with play due to begin at 7pm (08:00 GMT).

We’ll be bringing you live coverage, with Australia looking to wrap up the series with a game to spare.

The final match will take place in Hobart on Monday.

The tourists came into this one brimming with confidence after winning the ODI series against Australia, but they were unable to repeat the feat tonight as the home side turned on the style.

A seven-over match is not really a fair way to assess a side, but Pakistan’s batters will be a little disappointed with how easily they gave away some of their wickets.

Still, there’s plenty left to play for with two matches remaining in the series.

Both captains have spoken to the television broadcaster at the conclusion of the match. First up was Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan:

“It [the match] was going very fast. You try to keep yourself normal, but it’s difficult to keep things normal.”

He also praised Glenn Maxwell for his performance:

“I must give credit to Maxwell, not only in this match but if you look at his batting and his style you know he’s going to play that way.”

Afterwards, Australia skipper Josh Inglis gave his thoughts.

“That was really nice. At times tonight we didn’t think we were going to get a game in, so it was really satisfying.

“I thought we did a great job and it was nice to get that first win.”

We’ve just heard from Australia’s Glenn Maxwell who has been awarded player of the match after his brilliant 43 in the opening innings tonight.

“I certainly had a lot of fun out there, it was great fun. We thought we had enough on the board, there was a little bit of tack in the wicket and the bowlers did a great job,” he said.

He was also asked about the lengthy rain delay and the challenge of getting ready for the match with only a moment’s notice.

“There were a few of us who had packed our bags expecting it to be called off, so it was a big rush to get ready for an international fixture,” Maxwell explained.

I suspect we won’t see too many seven-over matches (although you never know in modern cricket), but Australia showed exactly how to play that ‘format’.

They smashed plenty of runs before getting stuck into the Pakistan attack with plenty of early wickets.

By roughly four overs, Australia pretty much had the job done. Bartlett and Ellis were the pick of the bowlers with three wickets each as Adam Zampa ended on a hat-trick after taking two wickets with the final two bowlers.

Abbas Afridi was the only batsman to make his mark, finishing on 20 not out.

Naseem Shah comes out, swings, misses and is clean-bowled. Zampa ends with two in two as Australia win by 29 runs.

That’s an impressive effort in just seven overs.

A fun game on a frustrating evening.

Shaheen comes down his crease to try and smash the penultimate ball for six.

But he can’t connect with Zampa’s delivery and is clean-bowled.

Shaheen Shah Afridi b Adam Zampa 11

Some spin for the final over of the night as Zampa comes into the attack.

Abbas removes his helmet but can only nick a single off the first delivery.

Shaheen finds the boundary off the third ball of the over, just clearing Ellis at deep mid-wicket.

6.3 overs. Pakistan 62-7

Shaheen Afridi is next in for Pakistan. It looks pretty hopeless now for his team, but his namesake Abbas Afridi is fighting hard for his country.

He slaps a shot back past the bowler for four. Ellis finishes with a leg bye.

Ellis is back into the attack and picks up another wicket.

Haseebullah goes for a big six but is short and is (ironically) caught by Short at deep mid-wicket.

Haseebullah Khan c Matt Short b Tim Ellis 12

Another six for Pakistan! This time Haseebullah hits out, launching a shot towards long-on.

David tries to push it back over the rope, but he can’t concede the six.

Pakistan finish with a single and now need 47 from the final two overs.

Spencer Johnson is back after bowling the opening over of Pakistan’s innings. He starts with a dot ball thanks to a much slower delivery.

Afridi decides to go for it off the next ball, smashing a lovely shot over cover for six. He follows it up with a boundary, scooping it to the short boundary at fine leg.

4.3 overs. Pakistan 39-6

Abbas Afridi is next in as Pakistan look to avoid being bowled out in a seven-over innings.

He survives the rest of Bartlett’s final over along with Haseebullah as Pakistan creep towards 30.

Three overs to go and Pakistan need 64. Yikes.

Bartlett back into the attack and straight back into the wickets!

Agha’s shot lacks any real commitment, and he top-edges one high into the air. Inglis runs from behind the stumps to claim it.

Salman Agha c †Inglis b Bartlett 4

A terrific over from Ellis, taking two Pakistan wickets.

Haseebullah Khan smashes a much needed boundary off his final ball, but Pakistan are flagging here.

Fraser-McGurk has taken three catches now!

It’s another catch at deep midwicket as Irfan tries to smash a six. Pakistan are crumbling here.

Irfan Khan c Fraser-McGurk b Ellis 0

Azam tries to loft a shot over the long boundary at deep midwicket but can only find Fraser-McGurk on the rope.

Yet another wicket off the first ball of the over.

Babar Azam c Fraser-McGurk b Ellis 3

Bartlett again!

After being slapped for four, the bowler recovers and takes a wicket. Khan tries to slap another big shot through the covers but mistimes it and is caught at third man by Short.

Usman Khan c Short b Bartlett 4