KARACHI – Rain played spoilsport on Sunday as the T20I series opener between Australia and Pakistan ended in no result.
The first of the three T20Is was called-off just 3.1 overs into the second innings of the match.
Chasing a 119-run target (DLS method), Australia were 41 for no loss in 3.1 overs before the rain interrupted the play.
Earlier, Pakistan’s innings had to be truncated to 15 overs because of a rain interruption in the 13th over.
Pakistan scored 107 runs for the loss of five wickets, thanks to their captain Babar Azam, in their innings after they were asked to bat by Australian captain Aaron Finch.
Babar recorded an unbeaten 38-ball 59, which was studded with five fours and two sixes.
The highlight of the innings for Pakistan was a 60-run stand for the third-wicket between Babar and wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 31 off 33, which helped the visitors put up some resistance after they had lost two quick wickets early on in their innings.
Fakhar Zaman, who registered a golden duck, and Haris Sohail (four off six) were back in the pavilion inside first 11 deliveries.
Except for Babar and Rizwan, Asif Ali (11 off 10) was the only other batsman to enter double figures.
Finch gave his side a flying start as he scored 37 not out at a staggering strike rate of 231.25.
The right-handed opening-batsman cracked five fours and two sixes in his 16-ball stay at the crease.
The second match of the T20I series will be held at Canberra on 5 November.
