Glenn Maxwell unleashed a ferocious batting display, followed by Xavier Bartlett's devastating spell that dismantled Pakistan's top order, as Australia triumphed in a shortened Gabba Twenty20 match by 29 runs.

Lightning and heavy rain transformed Thursday's series opener in Brisbane into a seven-overs-a-side contest, and Maxwell's (43 off 19) aggressive innings set the tone. His audacious knock included boundaries scattered across the ground, before Marcus Stoinis contributed with 21 off seven balls, including 10 off the last two deliveries, propelling Australia to 93 for four.

Pakistan could only manage 64 for nine in their innings, handing Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. The visitors had previously dominated the hosts in their last two 50-over contests, losing only three wickets combined en route to a series victory. However, their batsmen faltered on Thursday, with Bartlett (three for 13) taking two wickets in a four-run second over, setting the tone.

He dismissed Mohammad Rizwan with his first delivery, the captain's ambitious slog sweep backfiring and putting Pakistan on the back foot. Nathan Ellis (three for nine) was equally effective, taking two wickets in the next over as Pakistan slumped to 16 for five. Bartlett's third wicket was the highlight, the 25-year-old now boasting nine wickets in five T20 internationals. Adam Zampa then joined the action, taking two wickets in the final over that began with Pakistan needing 41 for victory.

Maxwell entered the match with scores of 0, 16, and 0 in Australia's 50-over series loss. He reverse paddled his first delivery for four, one of four boundaries in his first six deliveries. The Victorian then executed another reverse paddle that sailed over the head of the man on the rope, narrowly missing an unsuspecting spectator in the third row. The mercurial dasher then smashed a six over mid-wicket and another over mid-off from Haris Rauf's second over, racing to 40 off 15. A well-aimed Abbas Afridi bouncer halted his frenetic innings, Maxwell finding the man on the rope.

Earlier, opening pair Matt Short (seven) and Jake Fraser McGurk's (nine) lean runs at international level continued. McGurk, who clipped his first two balls to the boundary, threw his head back in disgust after drilling a catch to point.

Game two is scheduled for Sydney on Saturday, with Hobart hosting the final fixture on Monday.

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