Pakistan defeated Australia by 66 runs in the first of their three-match T20I series in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Here are our five takeaways from that match:

1-Australia transitioning from dominant to disastrous

Australia have dominated the last 20 years in world cricket like no other side ever has in the sport. Of the last five World Cups, they've won four, while their overall tally of five in the premier 50-over tournament is more than twice the haul of the next most successful sides. And even though their records in Tests and T20Is is not as great, it's still enough for the Aussies to be regarded as the toughest cricket team of all.

For a side of that size and tradition, to suffer the ignominy that they did yesterday, was perhaps the most bizarre and even disturbing sight in cricketing context. The mighty Australia were 22-6 at one point. Let that sink in.

The ball was doing a few things and Pakistan bowlers were smart but that is still not ample explanation for an Australian side to surrender so meekly. The yellow-bellied batters displayed their complete range of horrendously half-hearted strokes to suffer arguably the most embarrassing defeat for an Aussie side.

2-Perfect start to Pakistan's six-match T20I run

While Australia were uncharacteristically poor, Pakistan were actually quite decent, barring that small matter of a mid-innings batting collapse. But then what's a Pakistan performance that does not see them lose a flurry of wickets for no reason at all.

With the T20I series against New Zealand to follow this one, Pakistan are currently on a six-match assignment divided between two opponents. To begin that run with a comfortable win was just what the doctor ordered.

3- Imad, Ashraf the stars of the show

Pakistani batters did okay, but the match was quite clearly won by the bowlers. More precisely, two bowlers: Imad Wasim and Faheem Ashraf. The duo were easily the stars of the show as they bagged five wickets between themselves in the first six overs —blows that the Aussies never recovered from.

Imad, in particular, was super intelligent as he kept his plan simple: bowl a tight line and keep the ball in the wickets. His return to the national team after a year out due to injury has almost instantly shown Pakistan what they were missing all this time.

4-Time running out for Asif

There's certain nobility in giving domestic circuit's performers a chance or two in the national team. But when those shows of faith do not translate into international success, perhaps its best to abandon the idea. Asif Ali, after having failed in Asia Cup, failed again yesterday.

The errors of specialist batsmen, especially the ones who don't contribute with the ball at all, are hard to overlook. And Asif is fast heading into an area where his failures, if they don't subside right away, would get him axed from the next squad. He needs to get his act together.

5- Azam — a star in the making

He may not be Virat Kohli or even anything that resembles Virat Kohli, but Pakistan's Babar Azam is still a star in the making. The 24-year-old was already averaging 80 in the UAE this year before his 68-run knock yesterday boosted his figures some more.

Not so long ago some had doubts whether Azam would be able to make it in the shortest format, just because he isn't a natural slogger. But Azam has proved his doubters wrong, not necessarily by learning to slog but by demonstrating that he can score quick runs albeit in his own, elegant way.

The writer is a cricket aficionado based in Karachi.