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First T20 between Pakistan, Australia Called Off due to Rain

SYDNEY: The first T20 between Pakistan and Australia has been called off without producing any result due to rain in Sydney on Sunday.

Rain delayed play after which the match was reduced to 15 overs of play per side.

Pakistan ended on 107 for 5 but play was halted for just over an hour mid-match, meaning Australia was set a revised target of 119.

Australian skipper Aaron Finch smashed 37 runs from 16 balls to take the side to 41 for no loss in just 3.1 overs before the start of rain.

The rain came as a hope for Pakistan and dashed Australia’s hopes of going 1-0 up in the three-match series.

First Innings

Australia won the toss and opted to bowl first Pakistan.

After being put into bat by Australian captain Aaron Finch, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam opened the innings with Fakhar Zaman.

Skipper Babar Azam led his side adding 59 runs on the scoreboard.

Fakhar was caught by Smith off Starc’s second ball of the innings for a golden duck, while Haris Sohail edged out to Steve Smith at a backward point after scoring only four runs.

Mohammad Rizwan was the third to depart after being bowled out by Ashton Agar for 31.

Rain interrupted play with the tourists 3-88 in the 13th over with Babar Azam on 43* and Asif Ali on 10 not out.

When they resumed at 88 for three in the thirteenth over after the rain break, Asif Ali fell to Richardson for 11 and Imad Wasim to Starc for a duck, leaving Azam to bring up his eleventh T20 half-century.

Australia are in red-hot form and fresh from a 3-0 series sweep against Sri Lanka, in contrast to Pakistan who were embarrassed by a second-string Sri Lanka at home across three matches last month.

That debacle cost Sarfaraz Ahmed his job as captain and a place in the squad, while experienced campaigners Shoaib Malik and Mohammad Hafeez were also axed in the shorter format.

The top-ranked T20 batsman Babar Azam is captaining the team as he tries to re-build for the World Cup next year.

Of note, 37-year-old seamer Mohammad Irfan features for the first time in more than three years.

Pakistan

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam (C), Haris Sohail, Mohammad Rizwan, Asif Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Irfan

Australia

Aaron Finch (C), David Warner, Steve Smith, Ben McDermott, Ashton Turner, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa