5-star Mitchell Starc restricts Pakistan to 198 in 1st ODI

By Osama Tariq

SHARJAH (TheSportsNext) August 28, 2012: Australian young fast bowler Mitchell Starc recorded his best figures in One Day International career on Tuesday as the so-called inexperience Australian side folded a somewhat experienced Pakistan team to mere 198 runs total in the first match being played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan looked good to score in excess of 260 runs at one stage when Asad Shafiq and Umar Akmal were blossoming with each ball but as soon as Mitchell Starc shattered stumps behind Asad Shafiq, Pakistan collapsed.

Pakistan’s last six wickets fell for only 38 runs as Aussie pacemen James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc caused havoc to Pakistan’s middle and lower middle order.

Mitchell Starc grabbed five wickets for 42 runs which is the 21^st best bowling figures at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The best bowling figure by any bowler at this stadium is by Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka who captured seven wickets for 30 runs against India on October 27, 2000. The best bowling figure by a Pakistani fast bowler here is by Aaqib Javed who took seven wickets for 37 runs against India on October 25, 1991. The best bowling figures by a Pakistani spin bowler at this ground is by Shahid Khan Afridi who grabbed five wickets for 35 runs from 9.2 overs against Sri Lanka on November 20, 2011.

Pakistan innings could never got going as right from the start James Pattinson put Pakistan under pressure. Pakistan Twenty20 captain Mohammad Hafeez was the first man to go who after surviving a Leg-Before-Wicket appeal due to Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) couldn’t prolong his innings and was trapped by the combination of Pattinson and David Hussey for only four runs from 12 deliveries.

Azhar Ali once again failed to prove his worth in the One-day team as he chipped one straight to the throat of Mid-On (Mitchell Johnson) for only five runs from six balls.

Pakistan’s other opener, left-hand batsman Nasir Jamshed (23 from 30 – 3 fours) was looking good at the crease and started to move his feet well before Mitchell Starc bowled a beauty to get his knick straight to wicket keeper Mathew Wade who made no mistake in accepting the simple catch.

Pakistan were looking in a spot of bother and needed a special innings from skipper Misbah-ul-Haq (26 from 48 – 1 four) but he failed to provide the goods as he could only manage to add another 59 runs to the total in company of Asad Shafiq (56 from 77 – 2 fours, 2 sixes) who was looking settled and resilient.

Umar Akmal (52 from 55 – 2 fours, 2 sixes) then joined Asad Shafiq and the two young batsmen took the score to 160 runs in the 36^th over before a huge batting collapse saw Pakistan folding to only 198 runs from 45.1 overs.

Once again it was Batting Powerplay which hurt Pakistan badly as Asad Shafiq trying to clear the infield was clean-bowled by Mitchell Starc for 56 runs.

Pakistan’s star all-rounder Shahid Afridi came and went in the space of only one delivery to score his 28^th One Day International duck, which was also a record 12^th Golden Duck for the fearful smasher.

Kamran Akmal, who never looked settled down the order, was bobbed down by some tight Aussie bowling before succumbing to pressure and edged one straight into the hands of Aussie skipper Michael Clarke for only four runs from 14 balls.

Umar Akmal (52) was the next man to go as he tried to lob the ball above point and cover fielder but found George Bailey who safely pouched the catch.

The rest was quite a formality as Pakistani tail-enders did their best to prolong the innings but Australian fast bowlers used reverse swing to great effect and skittled Pakistan to a paltry total of 198 runs.

James Pattinson took three wickets for 19 runs but star of the show was Mitchell Starc who captured five wickets for 42 runs which is his best figures in One-day career.

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