With that victory, Pakistan take 1-0 lead in the three-match series. For Australia, it's back to the drawing board. We will return for the second game here in Lahore on January 31st. Until then, this is Rashad Mahbub signing off on behalf of Ranjith P and the rest of the ESPNcricinfo crew. Lights off!

Salman Agha: "It was a great game. We started well with the bat but couldn't finish the way we wanted. It became challenging after the first ten overs as the ball stopped coming onto the bat, but I think we were outstanding with the ball. [Plan moving forward] Yes, I'll be batting at number three. We expect to face a lot of spin, and I believe I can dominate spin during the powerplay. That's why I moved up, and that is where I'll stay. [Target] To be honest, I felt 170 was enough. Given how we were placed after ten overs, we probably could have scored 15 more, but I knew 170 would be plenty on this pitch because our spin bowling is outstanding. [Spin unit] Abrar has been outstanding since his debut. Since the Asia Cup, our spin bowling has been doing really well for us; they are winning us games day in and day out. Hopefully, they can continue this form through to the World Cup."

Travis Head: "It was disappointing, but that's how batting goes sometimes. [Conversation at innings break] We felt like we dragged it back well after the first ten overs. As the ball got softer, it became harder to score, so we felt we were right in the game. We had moments where we could have opened it up, but the conditions made it difficult. [Debutants] The guys played well. Mahli [Beardman] worked his way back into his spell and finished really strongly. I thought Xavier Bartlett had a very good game, and Zampa did his thing as usual. There are definitely positives, but also things to work on. [Preparation for the World Cup] We'll have to wait and see how it plays out. We have two more opportunities before we head to Sri Lanka, and we want to continue playing as well as we can. Even though the result didn't go our way today, there are things we did well and areas we can improve."

Player of the Match, Saim Ayub: "I think the conditions were a bit challenging, but our plan was to dominate with the new ball as much as possible. [Batting in the powerplay] The goal was to dominate sensibly by calculating the innings, watching the ball, and enjoying the process. [Bowling strategy] We knew that if we hit a good length consistently, it wouldn't be easy for the batters to score. That was the strategy."

nabeel: "2650 days? thats more than 7 years!!"

Fahad : "How many losses in those 2650 days?" 7 losses.

Abdul Samad: "2,650 days sounds huge but what actually matters is how many matches they played in those days." 9 matches, including today's one, Samad.

Riyan: "17 extras were given away by Australia. That's what made the difference!"

7:25 pm Australia started with intent as Head attacked from the start, but the visitors couldn't sustain the momentum. Saim Ayub clean bowled Short in the second over, much to the delight of the erupting Lahore crowd. Ayub struck again soon after, using clever pace variations to deceive Head, who was caught at long off while trying to clear the ropes. Australia reached 51/2 by the end of the Powerplay, with Green and Renshaw appearing settled at the crease. However, the wheels came off in the eighth over: Renshaw was run out after a disastrous mix-up with Green, and Connolly was bowled out by Ahmed in the same over. The visitors' woes deepened in the 11th over when Owen was run out freakishly; Green's smack down the track deflected off Nawaz's fingertips onto the non-striker's stumps. Pakistan's spin-heavy attack made life miserable for the Australian middle order under the floodlights. While Green provided some resistance with a steady 36, it wasn't enough as Australia lost wickets in clusters. Bartlett played a lone hand, finishing unbeaten on 34 runs. Abrar was the standout bowler, conceding only 10 runs in his four overs while picking up two wickets. Ayub also claimed two, with Shadab and Nawaz taking one apiece. We will be back with the post match presentation after a short break.

Pakistan won by 22 runs

Salman Mirza to bowl the last over, around the wicket

Aboodi: "Pakistan should be decent this world cup as they have lots of bowling options and allrounders, especially spinners which will help them on low scoring Sri-Lankan pitches. They're a good team, but concerns around the middle order do persist. "

Shaheen Shah Afridi returns to the attack

Qadeer: "@Sanket, But pitches in Sri Lanka aren't as batting friendly, Remember Pakistan is to play all it's matches in Sri Lanka and slow low pitches might suit Pakistan. "

Faraz: "Since atleast 5-6 T20I of Pakistan, I am seeing statsguru stat poping up that Fakhar Zaman needs 2 catches to become the player with most catches for Pakistan in T20Is surpassing Babar Azam, and Babar takes 3 more today. Fakhar didn't capitalise on the oportunity."