Starc's best keeps Pakistan down to 198

Left-arm paceman took a maiden five-wicket haul derailing Pakistan's innings.

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)