Umar Akmal’s T20 career best 64runs, He faced 31 balls with 2 sixes and 7 fours.

BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan beat Australia for the first time in 13 matches across all formats as they won the first T20 international by 23 runs at Edgbaston on 5 July 2010.

They were indebted to Umar Akmal’s career best 64runs that helped Pakistan to a total of 167/8 they’d been 47runs for 4 Overs.

Australia, chasing 168 to win, were bowled out for 144 with off spinner Saeed Ajmal (three wickets for 26 runs off his maximum four overs) and teenage left arm quick Mohammad Aamer doing the bulk of the damage.

Victory put Pakistan 1-0 up ahead of the second and final Twenty20 here on 06 July.

Australia were 85runs for 4 when Michael Hussey came to the crease.

They’d been 62 for four, chasing 192 when the left hander’s unbeaten 60runs off 24 balls saw Australia to a thrilling three-wicket win over Pakistan in the World Twenty20 semi-final in St Lucia in May the last time the teams met.

But Umar Gul, who missed the World T20 through injury, captured the prize wicket of Michael Hussey by bowling him for 18 with a superb reverse swinging delivery.

Saeed Ajmal finished the match with eight balls to spare by having Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait stumped.

Australia lost opener Shane Watson for a second ball naught when he was lbw to a brilliant in swinger from Muhammad Aamer.

But the second over, from fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, went for 20 runs as left hander David Warner struck fours off all the first five balls from the ‘Rawalpindi Express,’ for four runs.

However, Australia captain Michael Clarke fell for just five when he was well caught by opposing skipper Shahid Afridi at short extra cover off all rounder Abdul Razzaq’s second ball.

But runs kept coming before David Hussey eventually skied leg spinner boom boom Afridi to Shoaib Malik for 34.

Afridi then held his second excellent catch, to dismiss Cameron White off Aamer and Pakistan were right back in the match with Australia 109 /5 .

Umar Akmal’s career best 64runs, He faced 31 balls with 2 sixes and 7 fours.

Umar Akmal hoisted left arm quick Mitchell Johnson for a huge six and pulled him for four off successive balls to go to a 21 ball fifty before he was bowled by Tait to the disappointment of an overwhelmingly Pakistan supporting crowd.