Starc shines for OZs, Pakistan struggle

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Pakistan was struggling to keep Australia below their piled up total and by the time 20 overs were bowled Saeed Ajmal provided his team some hope of getting win in the opening mach of the three-match series at Sharjah Stadium. Australia was playing at 76 with six wickets in hand and Michael Clarke (46) and George Bailey were at the crease.
Earlier, 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.

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