Starc claims five against Pakistan
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Young paceman Mitchell Starc claimed a career-best haul of 5-42 as Australia’s quicks ran through Pakistan for a total of 198 in Tuesday’s opening one-day international.
James Pattinson bowled tailender Saeed Ajmal to end the innings at the start of the 46th over to finish with the excellent figures of 3-19 from 9.1 overs.
But it the was the in-form Starc, who picked up four wickets in last weekend’s ODI win over Afghanistan in Sharjah, who led the way.
Mitchell Johnson and medium-pacer Dan Christian took one wicket each as Australia’s pace attack did the damage, with spinner Glenn Maxwell (0-27 off four overs) having little impact.
Asad Shafiq (56) and Umar Akmal (52) both scored half-centuries before falling to big attempted cover-drives.
Mohammad Hafeez (four) chipped a slower ball from Pattinson to short cover at 1-20 and Azhar Ali (five) fell in Pattinson’s next over, caught at mid-on.
Nasir Jamshed (23) fended a short ball to a diving Matthew Wade behind the stumps off Starc’s bowling in the 10th over.
Captain Misbahul Haq hit only one boundary in his 26 and was bowled by Christian via an inside edge at 4-99 adding 59 with Shafiq.
Shafiq looked in good form but tried to drive Starc through cover and was bowled with the score on 160.
Starc claimed the key wickets of Kamran Akmal (four) and Shahid Afridi (duck) four overs later, with skipper Michael Clarke taking a fine catch at slip to remove Afridi.
The 22-year-old Starc soon followed up with the dismissal of Umar Akmal (52), who was caught at cover at 8-180.
Johnson and Pattinson picked up late wickets as Australia’s pace gamble paid off on a lifeless, white-looking Sharjah pitch.
Clarke and David Hussey bowled five tidy overs of spin for 17 runs.
The three-game series includes matches in Abu Dhabi on Friday and the final game in Sharjah next Monday.
© AAP 2013The Crowd Says (8) | Page 1 of Comments
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August 29th 2012 @ 3:11pm
nk7792 said | August 29th 2012 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
Starc is developing into a fine bowler. I wouldn’t be surprised if in 10 years time, he’s the spearhead we all expect Pattinson or Cummins to become…
August 30th 2012 @ 12:42pm
Max said | August 30th 2012 @ 12:42pm | Report comment
As excited as I am by this, I’m just waiting for him to break down again, last time I got my hopes up about our awesomely quick and young pace line up, all 3 broke down after their initial matches. Well managed CA.
Hopefully they have found the formula to keep them going because without them, our cupboards look pretty empty, especially with Johnson always being the selectors favourite, kill me now.
August 30th 2012 @ 2:03pm
jameswm said | August 30th 2012 @ 2:03pm | Report comment
Why is Johnson even there? I can’t work it out.
August 30th 2012 @ 2:49pm
Max said | August 30th 2012 @ 2:49pm | Report comment
mate it is dead set embarrassing how a player so out of form can still be considered, i would put both mcdermott junior and ben cutting miles ahead of him, at least they are threatening and hit the deck consistently hard all day.
August 30th 2012 @ 5:10pm
Disco said | August 30th 2012 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
Favouritism. Boys’ club.
September 2nd 2012 @ 1:55am
Sluggy said | September 2nd 2012 @ 1:55am | Report comment
Still on contract?
September 2nd 2012 @ 11:52am
Disco said | September 2nd 2012 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Indeed. What a whopper of a mistake that deal was!
August 30th 2012 @ 8:47pm
Jack said | August 30th 2012 @ 8:47pm | Report comment
Surely not from super coach Arthur, favourtism, no aurely you jest, just won’t have it…he is so “favourite orientated that it shows! Although I am still a doubter about a real test for Starc week in week out at Shield level, he is surely a more accurate left arm bowler (and proving to be a reasonable batsman for that matter) than MJ is currently indicating. As they have advocated recently, the selectors mantra is form so select on form and move MJ on to greener shield pastures to set a real test on form.