Pakistan finally beat Australia in a T20I this year after three foiled attempts. The Aussies lost by 23 runs at Edgbaston in Birmingham to go down 0-1 as they failed to chase down a similar total to which they had in the semi-final of the World T20 in the West Indies against the same opposition. 
Pakistan won the toss and batted first, but lost quick wickets at the start of the innings. Shahzaib Hasan’s innings lasted all of one ball before Dirk Nannes did him in, before a 43 run stand for the second wicket resurrected the innings. Kamran Akmal seemed to be going well enough with Salman Butt, when a misunderstanding in the calling ran the wicket-keeper out.
This was followed by Butt being dismissed by David Hussey and captain Shahid Afridi sent back off the first ball for Pakistan to be reduced to 47/4 in the 8th over.
It took some bold batting by Umar Akmal, in the company of Shoaib Malik, to pull the Pakistani side out of trouble. Malik made an 18-ball 21, but it was Akmal who did not allow the opposition spinners to settle down as he smacked three sixes and seven fours in his 31-ball 64.
Shaun Tait’s return spell earned him a couple of wickets as he ended with 2/25 in his four overs, but the rest of the bowlers went for aplenty and Pakistan ended with 167/8 in the 20 overs.
Chasing 168 for a win, Shane Watson was caught plumb in front for a duck, and Michael Clarke continued to flounder with the bat in this format as the Aussies stumbled to 29/2. David Hussey then joined Dave Warner and added 52 for the third wicket, including a 20-run over off Shoaib Akhtar, and used up only seven overs for the same.
At 81/2 in the 11th over, the game looked to be going towards an exciting finish, and despite the flurry of wickets, the presence of Michael Hussey would have kept the Aussies in the hunt. 34 runs were required off 17 balls, with four wickets – including that of Hussey and wicket-keeper Tim Paine – still standing, and the game was any body’s to the taking.
Instead, Umar Gul celebrated his comeback into the side with two wickets in the same over – both Hussey and Paine sent back – as the Aussies collapsed to a 144 all out. This handed the Pakistani side over an easy win in the end.
Umar Akmal was named the man of the match thanks to his glorious innings of 64. The second T20I will be played today at the same venue.