NEW DELHI: Pakistan's build-up to the T20 World Cup got off to a promising start with a comfortable 22-run victory over Australia in the first T20I of the three-match series in Lahore on Thursday.

The win was particularly sweet for Pakistan as it ended a seven-year (2650 days) drought against Australia in T20Is. They had lost seven consecutive matches to the Aussies during this period.

Saim Ayub stole the show with an all-round effort, smashing 40 off 22 balls and taking two wickets with the ball to help Pakistan take 1-0 lead in the series. He added a crucial 74-run partnership with Salman Agha after losing Sahibzada Farhan on the first ball of the match. Salman chipped in with a lively 39 off 27 balls, giving Pakistan the momentum in the first half of their innings.

Although Australia fought back, thanks to some incisive spells from Adam Zampa and Xavier Bartlett, Pakistan had already built a solid cushion that kept the chasing side at bay.

Not all of Pakistan's stars clicked. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam struggled to find their rhythm - Babar managed just 24 off 20, while Zaman scraped together 10 runs off 16 deliveries. Yet, a late cameo from Usman Khan helped Pakistan post a competitive 168, ultimately proving just enough to see off the Australian challenge.

Australia's chase started with a flourish as skipper Travis Head launched Ayub for a first-ball six. But his entertaining cameo was cut short at 23, thanks to Ayub's clever bowling that lured him into a mistimed shot, safely pouched by Babar Azam in the deep.

Australia's only real resistance came through a 40-run partnership between Matt Renshaw and Cameron Green, but once it was broken, the chase quickly unravelled. From there, wickets tumbled, and by the time Salman Mirza polished off the final over, Pakistan's 22-run victory was all but sealed.