1v1 Byzantine vs Malays?

(Granted, i'm only playing on Hard AI atm)

I'm somewhat of a beginner to competitive multiplayer AOE2. I've been playing Byzantine vs Malays 1v1. I always end up losing in the end.

I can never seem to win. They always boom rush me, and it's hard to go offensive to slow them down.

They either out resource me or out-speed me with age advancements. They usually send their archers by beginning feudal age. If i screw up, my villagers suffer and it's game over eventually. Best case scenario is that i counter the initial archer rush they send with cheap skirmishers, their persistent attacks means they're on castle age while i'm still booming to get there.

And this essentially negates the late-game advantage Byzantines would have vs Malays if they play defensively and boom. In the end, I tend to lose.

I've tried looking for examples of Byzantine vs Malays - can't find any. What am i doing wrong, and any tips on beating Malays? Even on Hard AI? (which isn't cheating yet, right?)