SHARJAH: Left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc took a maiden five-wicket haul to bowl Pakistan out for 198 in the first limited overs international at Sharjah Stadium here on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old lanky pacer derailed Pakistan's innings during the batting power-play to finish with 5-42 which helped Australia keep the lengthy rival batting line-up of seven batsmen to a modest total in 45.1 overs.
Pakistan, who won the toss, were recovering well when the batting power-play began in the 36th over with the total at 159-4 but lost three wickets in the five overs for just 16 runs with Starc dismissing Asad Shafiq (56), Kamran Akmal (four) and Shahid Afridi (nought) in an incisive bowling display.
His previous best of 4-27 came against Sri Lanka at Brisbane two years ago. He also took 4-47 in Australia's 66-run win over Afghanistan here on Saturday.
Starc ended all hopes of Pakistan batting through their 50-overs when he had Umar Akmal (52) in the 41st over.
It was Starc's new-ball partner James Pattinson (3-19) who provided Australia with two early breakthroughs, dismissing Mohammad Hafeez (four) in the fifth over before getting Azhar Ali (five) in the seventh.
Starc then made it 40-3 when he forced an edge off a short delivery off opener Nasir Jamshed to wicket-keeper Matthew Wade. Jamshed made 23 with three boundaries.
Shafiq and Misbahul Haq added 59 for the fourth wicket before the Pakistani skipper played a rash shot off paceman Dan Christian and was bowled for 26.
Shafiq then found an able partner in Umar as both hit out at Australian spinners to the best effect, with both hitting two sixes each. Shafiq also hit two boundaries during his 77-ball knock.
It was left to Umar to give the final touches to the innings but Starc finished all hopes of a Pakistani recovery. Umar also hit two boundaries in his 55-ball innings.
Pakistan: Misbahul Haq (capt), Nasir Jamshed, Mohammad Hafeez, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Umar Akmal, Kamran Akmal (wkt), Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanveer, Aizaz Cheema, Saeed Ajmal
Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, George Bailey, Dan Christian, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Matthew Wade (wkt), Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc
Umpires: Billy Bowden (NZL) and Zameer Haider (PAK)
TV umpire: Nigel Llong (ENG)
Match referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)
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afghanistan played really well than pakistan against australia
afghanistan played very well against australia than pakistan, afghans are brave, talanted and they can rock on on the world cup against every top team and at some stage there was very near to even beat australia but becz they missed thier main bowler that have popularity in asia of good bowling hamid hassan they lost but they impressed the world with thier talent afghanistan zindabad hope to make loy afghanistan and get the areas of durand line and pakhtunkhwah inshallah.
Its because of the heat in UAE and unusual timings of the game :D
very poor batting by Pakistan