PAKISTAN WIN FIRST ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL AGAINST AUSTRALIA BY FOUR WICKETS Over 45 It is Umar Gul who hits the winning runs off Nathan Bracken, and the Pakistan flags are waving in victory. Over 44 Misbah shakes off his slow and steady innings persona and when Symonds drops short he swivels and pulls it to the square leg boundary. Next ball, the drummers are drumming as he swipes a ball on middle to the midwicket boundary. Just two runs needed now. Pakistan 167-6 Over 43 Bracken to continue with the run rate at 1.5. Watchful is the word again as Misbah gets the solitary single to mid off. Pakistan 159-6 Over 42 Symonds continues as the batsmen pick up three more for the total. Pakistan 158-6 Over 41 Gul picks up a single before Misbah guides the ball to fine leg for one more as Pakistan walk casually towards the finish line. It is not a swagger or a sprint, but neither is it a hobble. You know they are going to get there, I know they are going to get there, and quite frankly, I think they do too. Pakistan 155-6 Misbah 20 Gul 2 WICKET Over 40 Andrew Symonds is into the attack. With 23 runs needed they must be expecting miracles from the man. Jamshaid hits a long hop through cover for three, Misbah then picks up a couple before sneaking a single from a Ferguson misfield. Then the off break of Symonds lulls Jamshaid into an attempted slash through cover and he bottom edges on to his stumps. Pakistan 152-6 Jamshaid b Symonds 9 Only 17 runs needed now as Umar Gul is the new man. He almost gives Symonds a caught and bowled as he picks up a single. Pakistan 153-6 Over 39 Bracken keeps plugging away outside off stump but Misbah is continue to leave anything the slightest bit dodgy well alone. The run rate is two. Pakistan 146-5 Over 38 Jamshaid gets off the mark with an outside edge that beats slip for two before sweeping a full toss to fine leg for four. Pakistan 146-5 Over 37 Hilfenhaus continues as the Pakistanis need 29 from 84 balls. Hilfenhaus gives one bouncer from the over as the bowler spears a nasty straight delivery and Misbah does well to avoid it. I've just been told the attendance is 17, 486, which is a fantastic start for the organisers. That is two for 42 for the paceman. The 19-run over was something of an anomaly. Pakistan 140-5 Over 36 Hauritz returns and only a single is taken off the over. Pakistan 140-5 WICKET Over 35 Oh, is that the end in sight? Boom, boom. That is the loudest applause of the night, and that is just from the press box as Afridi steps in to club Hilfenhaus over the top before taking a small step forward and swooshing him to the long off boundary. A rattled Hilfenhaus follows that with a bouncer drawing cheers, jeers and a wide call. Next ball, he slams it into the ground again and a flying Haddin cannot stop it and that is four no balls. Then, and does it not always happen, Hilfenhaus overpitches and Afridi drives him down the ground. However, Boom Boom blasts himself out as this time his wild swing only connects high on the bat and it is an easy catch for Bracken. The Aussies are giving themselves the slimmest chance with that. Pakistan 138-5 Afridi c Bracken b Hilfenhaus 24 Nashir Jamshaid joins Misbah at the crease with Salman Butt as a runner. Misbah has scored 15 from 39 balls. Pakistan 139-5 Over 34 The stocky Queenslander Hopes continues. Misbah takes a single bringing Afridi on strike to the crowd's delight. However, Afridi can only work a single. Misbah then sees a loud lbw appeal correctly turned down before he punches back down the track past the sprawling mid off. Pakistan 120-4 Over 33 Hilfenhaus returns to the attack. Clark has two overs left having taken one for 28 so far this evening. Misbah takes a single to fine leg. Pakistan 114-4 Over 32 Hopes starts off with a legcutter that beats Misbah and goes through to Haddin. A single off the final ball. Pakistan 113-4 Over 31 The crowd are on their feet when a stray full toss from Clark is dispatched to the boundary by Afridi and next ball is a better shot as he pulls powerfully for four. A thick edge sees Hilfenhaus misfield at third man for two more. Pakistan 112-4 Afridi 11 Misbah 8 WICKET Over 30 A wonderful one-handed catch sends Malik back to the pavilion as Hopes draws the edge with a legcutter and Haddin, who started to move to his left, throws his right arm out and gloves the catch. Pakistan 99-4 c Haddin b Hopes 24. It is "Boom Boom" time. First up is a cracker from Hopes who turns Afridi inside out but the ball misses everything despite full-blooded appeals from the bowler and gloveman. Afridi then swings one to deep square leg before Misbah pushes the ball to the same area for two. Pakistan 102-4 Over 29 "Afridi, we need big six," reads one sign. Bracken continues with David Hussey keeping Brad Haddin company at maybe a third slip as Australia continue to probe. Just a single to Malik. Pakistan 99-3 Over 28 Pakistan's required run rate is only 3.3 so its not real surprise it is not fireworks out there. To be fair the Australians are not giving them much that deserves to be put to the sword. Hopes returns and keeps slightly short of a length on a line just outside off. He keeps that up for five balls and then drops short and Misbah easily spins and turns to the fine leg boundary. Pakistan 98-3 Over 27 A little short from Bracken and it moves wider off the pitch giving Malik the room to carve the ball to the cover boundary. Pakistan 94-3 Over 26 It's the second powerplay as Hilfenhaus continues. A thick edge gets Malik two to third man before he squeezes the ball out to square for a single. Pakistan 90-3 Over 25 Bracken returns as Australia seek the breakthrough. Just the three singles from it. Pakistan 87-3 Over 24 A very solid over from Hilfenhaus. One ball spits off the pitch and it is a probing six dot balls, but Misbah looks in good touch, and untroubled. Pakistan 84-3 Over 23 It is unconvincing from Malik as he fails to connect properly, and his aired shot only just misses the hands of short cover and they jog for a single. Misbah then clips to square leg. Pakistan 84-3 Over 22 The vice captain Misbah ul Haq joins Malik at the crease. I think the Pakistani fans would happily risk losing another wicket if it brought "Boom Boom" Afridi to the crease judging by the cheer he got when he was flashed up on the big screen walking around the dressing room with his pads on. Tidy over from Hilfenhaus. Pakistan 82-3 WICKET Over 21 Clark greets Malik with one that explodes off the pitch and the batsman fends it away. Malik pushes a straight ball to midwicket for three before Akmal cuts for four. However, Akmal's luck runs out as he chases another wide run and is caught behind by Brad Haddin. His entertaining knock comes to an end but it has taken Pakistan to a position of needing just 88 from 29 overs with seven wickets left. Pakistan 81-3 Akmal c Haddin b Clark 48 Over 20 Hilfenhaus is back into the attack. I think the lad has a touch of Steve Harmison about him. Not sure much in the bowling department, or because he looks like a man who would rather be snoozing on a sofa with a newspaper over his face, but just facially a little bit. The luck is with Akmal as he top edges a short ball for four but there is nothing lucky about another cover drive that races over the outfield. Pakistan 74-2 Akmal 44 Malik 9 Over 19 Clark is visibly frustrated as Malik, and then Akmal play and miss. Then Clark has a loud lbw shout turned down as the slightest of inside edges saves the batter. 66-2 Over 18 Akmal uses his feet well to drive through the mid off area for four. Pakistan 64-2 Over 17 Akmal is looking increasingly confident and he steps forward and drags Clark across the line for four. Pakistan 59-2 Over 16 Just the single of Hauritz's over, with Malik watchful. Pakistan 55-2 Over 15 Clark has changed to the Emirates Road End. A push by Malik to deep midwicket gets two and a cheer that does not really deserve to be as loud as it is, but they are a happy crowd the Pakistanis. A tuneless man has found a drum, or something to use as a drum, which is a bit of a shame, for me anyway. Pakistan 54-2 Over 14 Akmal gets to the pitch and hits a lovely cover drive to the boundary before stroking one for four past cover. Pakistan 51-2 Akmal 25 Malik 5 Over 13 Akmal slashes to third man for a single. It is certainly not a shot unfamiliar to the batsman. Every Pakistan run is being greeted with loud cheers. Pakistan 42-2 Over 12 Nathan Hauritz comes into the attack. Can Australia's spinner have the same effect as the Pakistan pair? A variety of flight from Hauritz but four runs from the over. Pakistan 37-2 WICKET Over 11 The Pakistan captain goes as his attempted pull hits him high up on the bat and it spoons up for an easy catch for Nathan Bracken coming round from mid on. Shoaib Malik is the new batsman. Pakistan 33-2 Younus c Bracken b Hopes 11 Over 10 Akmal opens the face to guide the ball down for four runs, nothing wrong with the line but it was a tidy shot from the wicketkeeper. Pakistan 33-1 Over 9 James Hopes continues from the Emirates Road End. Symonds' tidy fielding brings a round of applause from David Hussey, on for the injured Marsh. That is a maiden. After nine overs Australia were 41-1 but there is hardly any need for Pakistan to force the pace. Pakistan 29-1 Younus 11 Akmal 8 Over 8 Stuart Clark is into the attack and immediately beats the bat of Kamran Akmal. There is one slip and a gully, and Akmal guides the ball to the vacant fine leg area as he clips it off his pads. Pakistan 29-1 Younus 11 Akmal 8 The two teams are back out on to the field. I was just chatting to one Australian fan who said he was now "hoping" for an Australian win. When a member of a nation as bullish as this one downgrades his expectations to mere hope you know the size of the task that the visitors face. Pakistan need another 144 with nine wickets, and 43 overs, remaining.
There is not a DJ in the world that can resist a cliche, and some of the Australia squad are being put through some training paces to the sounds of Men at Work's Down Under. It had to come at some point. And that is the scheduled break. Play resumes at around 7pm. Over 7 James Hopes is the first change for Michael Clarke's Australia. Younus Khan is all smiles as he guides Hopes towards third man. However, I do not know if he was aware there was a slip and the ball narrowly beats the fielder's outstretched hand to race to the boundary. Pakistan 25-1 Younus 11 Akmal 8 Over 6 The floodlights are on, around the top of the stadium for 360 degrees. It is an interesting innovation and we will see how well it works tonight. Rod Marsh was impressed and believes the system does not cause shadows. Younus guides a single to third man before the diminutive Akmal gets on his toes to drive through point. He gets a free hit following that being a no-ball too. Akmal gets another four for it too as he gets down on one knee and swipes it between point and cover. A great over for Pakistan. Pakistan 21-1 Over 5 Younus leans in and pushes a leg-stump delivery from Bracken over mid on for four runs. He made it look effortless. The batsman then gets a bit of luck as he edges an off break into his standing leg. Pakistan 11-1Over 4 Hilfenhaus, from the Sports City end, finds a spot that keeps low outside off stump and is keeping Akmal on the back foot. Pakistan 6-1 Over 3 The left-armer Bracken beats an attempted drive from Younus and puts his disappointed hands up to his hairbanded locks. The crowds are still coming into the stadium and the top tiers are filling up. Good, probing over from Bracken, and that is a maiden. Pakistan 6-1 WICKET Over 2 The seamer Ben Hilfenhaus traps Butt as the ball swings back and hits in front of the stumps as Australia make an early breakthrough. Pakistan 5-1 Butt lbw Hilfenhaus 5 Younus Khan is the new man in. Pakistan 6-1 Over 1 Nathan Bracken opens the bowling and Salman Butt sweetly times him through point for four. Pakistan's chase is under way. Pakistan 5-0 Pakistan require 169 to win after Australia scored 168 from 38.5 overs at a run rate of 4.3. Over 39 As the sun fades behind the stadium's canopies, Hilfenhaus lofts Gul to long on for a single and put the man Hopes back on strike. Hopes then gets a single to long off. However, that's the end for Australia as Gul keeps it straight to Hilfenhaus and as the tailender looks to angle the ball to leg it comes off his pads and clatters into the stumps. The Aussies have gone them a fighting chance. Australia 168 all out Hilfenhaus b Gul 4 Over 38 For a while I was almost certain we were not going to get to over 38 but James Hopes has sparked a gutsy fightback and he launches Shoaib Malik over deep midwicket for six. Australia 165-9 Hopes 46 Hilfenhaus 3 Over 37 Gul continues. Hilfenhaus works a single from the first ball, very smart work from the tailender. Hopes takes advantage by hooking the paceman for four. The run rate is still a mere 4.2. The Pakistan flags are being waved with gusto. A yorker from Gul goes straight through Hilfenhaus but misses the stumps. Close. Australia 156-9 Over 36 There is a change of bowling and the fact the new man is beginning his run up at long off can only mean Shoaib Akhtar. His first ball is wide and Hopes then cuts another short and wide delivery for four valuable runs and a carbon copy from the final ball takes Hopes on to 33. It is a valuable partnership of 28, although Hilfenhaus has just got the single. The technical problems seem to be at an end too. Australia 150-9 Over 35 Gul's eighth over. The Aussies scamper a single to get Hopes back on strike. Hopes drives on the up and gets four to leg. They will take any runs they can at the minute. That's the eighth boundary of the innings. They are hanging in there. 139-9 Over 34 Ajmal fails to make the breakthrough in his final over. He finishes with fantastic figures of two for 18. Australia 131-9 Over 33 Umar Gul returns, and the Australians would heave a big sigh of relief if there were not nine of them already back in the pavilion with their feet up. They nearly commit hari kari when Hopes sprints for a single only to be turned back and the throw should have seem him dismissed. Australia 130-9 Hopes 16 Hilfenhaus 0 Afridi finished with a fantastic six for 38 from his 10 overs. Over 32 Saeed has the batsman James Hopes flailing with his bat like he's swatting a fly he can hear but cannot exactly locate. He gets one off the bat for a single. Australia's hopes rest with, er, Hopes. He is there with Ben Hilfenhaus. Australia 125-9 WICKET Over 31 The fifth ball of the over sees the Pakistan flags flying again as Afridi's googly goes completely through the hapless Clark. There is rapturous applause for Afridi and wow has he bowled well. The wickets have mostly been the result of good bowling above anything else. Australia 122-9 Clark b Afridi 2 Over 30 Saeed Ajmal is baffling Clark who can do nothing but laugh as he is beaten again. He has no idea which way it is going to spin. Australia 119-8 Over 29 Afridi bowls Bracken. Stuart Clark comes to the crease. Australia 118-8 Bracken b Afridi Over 28 Over 27 The Australians have lost seven wickets for 73 runs. WICKET Over 26 Nathan Hauritz is bowled third ball! This is turning into a rout as Ajmal turns one past his rival spinner, who plants his foot forward and shoulders arms. He holds the position, looking a little stunned. If he was posing for the cameras I think the caption could be "Oops". Australia 110-7 Hauritz b Ajmal 0 Nathan Bracken and James Hope see out the rest of the over. Australia 112-7 WICKET Over 25 Afridi flights a delivery that seems to curve into Callum Ferguson and the batsman can only push into the grateful hands of slip. Afridi on fire. Ferguson c Misbah b Afridi Over 22 Ajmal completely befuddling Ferguson, who gets the final ball away for a single. WICKET Over 22 The introduction of the spinners certainly has done Pakistan the world of good. Afridi then finds a way through Watson. That is 3 for 28 for Afridi. Australia 108-5 Watson b Afridi WICKET Over 22 Symonds does not hang around though. Afridi brings a ball back into Symonds and cramps him for room as he tries to cut and it catches his middle finger on its way through. Australia 107-4 Symonds c Akmal b Afridi 1 Over 21 The big-hitting Andrew Symonds gets off the mark. Australia 105-3 WICKET Over 20 Pakistan are celebrating again as a doosra from Saeed Ajmal draws the edge from Clarke. Australia 100-3 Clarke c Akmal b Saeed 4 WICKET Over 19 An unusually flighted delivery from Afridi was popped up to Khan at extra cover and a good innings from the wicketkeeper comes to an end. Clever work by the bowler too. The captain Michael Clarke is the new batsman. Australia 95-2 Haddin c Younus b Afridi 40 from 52 Over 18 Watson tickles the ball down to third man for a couple and they work Ajmal around. Australia 93-1 Apologies for the delayed updates, there is a bit of a technical issue here. Over 17 Haddin, who has dispensed with the helmet, launches Afridi very, very high. It goes from the sunlit wicket area into the shade of the offside and Akthar running around from mid on dives but fails to hold on. He may not have picked that up easily but it is disappointment for Pakistan. 88-1 Over 16 The seamer Iftikhar is taken out of the attack and replaced by the off spin of Saeed Ajmal. There is a bit of turn there for him early as he beats Watson outside off stump. Australia 82-1 Over 15 After working Afridi around Watson gets down on one knee and clubs over the midwicket boundary for six runs. It was a wristy slog-flick. Two good overs for Australia. Australia 81-1 Over 14 Watson leans back to heave the first ball from Iftikhar, a veteran of over 50 ODIs but a solitary Test, over mid on for four. Shoaib is moved back to long on as a result. There is a lovely, punched drive by Haddin that beats a diving Younus Khan at mid off as this Aussie duo start to force the pace. The bowler finishes with a yorker that Watson digs out. And that is drinks. Australia 71-1 Haddin 33 Watson 18 Over 13 The crowd favourite Shahid "Boom Boom" Afridi comes on with his leg breaks. His first four balls are right on the spot and defended warily by Watson. The fifth, however, is flatter and down leg and Akram cannot collect it and the Aussies scamper to make it two wides. A good start from Afridi though. Australia 60-1 Over 12 Rao Iftikhar Anjum replaces Shoaib who is given a breather. 5-0-24-0 for the quick so far. The crowd seem to be enjoying themselves, there's Pakistan flags, and inflatable kangaroos a plenty. Well, at least one. Watson cross-bats off the back foot for three through extra cover. Australia 58-1 Over 11 The second powerplay is taken as Gul continues. Pakistan obviously fancy that Shane Watson is a bit susceptible to the short ball but and he flirts with the idea of pulling but decides against it. Australia 51-1 Over 10 Shane Watson announces his arrival with a powerful pulled boundary off Akhtar as the end of the first powerplay has Australia just short of their fifty with one man down. Australia 49-1 Haddin 24 Watson 7 WICKET Over 9: Marsh steps forward and whips that off the front foot towards the deep midwicket boundary. He gives a little hop and a limp on his follow through. Afridi chases it down to loud cheers. Marsh is then run out by some wonderful work by Pakistan in the field. Going for two into the shade of deep cover, as the throw comes in Hauritz looked to be struggling. However, it still need a fantastic collect by Nasir Jamshaid and he whipped off the bails with the runner stranded. Australia 39-1 Marsh run out 14 Over 8: Marsh gets in on the act with a four but it is an unconvincing cut that he bottom edges and it bounces over the slip cordon to the third man boundary. The fielders look less than impressed. Australia 34-0 Over 7: A push down the ground by Haddin races to the boundary, wonderful timing. Next Haddin tries to pull a ball and fails to connect properly and it bounces safe in front of mid on. His timing is perfect on the final ball of the innings, however, as he loft the ball over long on for a six. That was all timing. Australia 28-0 Over 6: Akhtar is still being roared in by the crowd. In the middle of the over two slower balls sandwich a faster delivery that zings outside the off stump. It is a cagey start from the Australians with the Pakistan bowlers not giving too many free runs away. Australia 18-0 Over 5: A quick Australian single to square leg by Haddin sees Marsh dive through to the striker's end. The throw misses but Marsh stays down. He could have been out. The physio comes on, it looks like the left thigh or hamstring. Umpire Billy Bowden gets on his radio. The Pakistan team go into a huddle. It seems Marsh is in pain as he's called for a runner, and it is the spinner Nathan Hauritz, who will be the legs. Australia 15-0 Marsh 5 Haddin 8 Over 4: That is a confident stroke from Haddin, through the off side on the rise. Akhtar responds with a slingy delivery that passes Haddin almost head high but it is leg side and that is the second extra. The final ball keeps low and Marsh leaves it alone outside off. Australia 12-0 Over 3: Umar Gul maintains a tidy line to Marsh. Australia 6-0 Over 2: There are huge cheers for the Pakistani paceman Shoaib Akhtar, and he gets good carry with Kamran Akmal behind the stumps taking the ball at shoulder height. Marsh works him down to fine leg. Australia 4-0 Over 1: Umar Gul generates good pace outside the off stump for the first ball in this inaugural match and the left-handed Shaun Marsh, opening with Brad Haddin, gets solidly in line. The first runs come next ball when Marsh flicks the second ball down to fine leg. Australia 3-0
The Pakistan team come out to big cheers from the crowd, while Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire is played by the DJ. The wicket looks extremely dry, a bright straw yellow, by request of the Pakistan team, and it should provide a lot of help for their spinners later in the Australian innings.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hello, and welcome, to Dubai Sports City for the first one-day international between Pakistan and Australia. It is a windy day but there is not a cloud in the sky. The match will get under way at 3pm. The series here in the UAE consists of five ODIs and a Twenty20 match split between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Pakistan have the most to gain from this series having played just six ODIs in the last nine months because of their well-documented troubles. Australia, who have played three times that amount in the same period, have rested Ricky Ponting, Mitchell Johnson and Mike Hussey for their trip to the UAE but their replacements will be keen to make a good showing and push for a starting place in the future. Moreover, the premier side in world cricket have much to prove having failed to win a ODI series this year - losing to New Zealand and twice to South Africa. The two teams have just finished their final warm-ups with the returning Aussie all-rounder Andrew Symonds visible out there with a newly-shaven head, a particular talking point among the press from Down Under. Pakistan are expecting to have a vocal "home" support in the impressive 25,000 capacity stadium with fans starting to take their seats ahead of what should be a fantastic game of cricket. Australia's captain Michael Clarke won the toss and chose to bat. The Aussie wicketkeeping great Rod Marsh, who is director of cricket at the DSC, previously told The National how impressed he was with the new stadium, and it is remarkable how fast it has all come together. He said: "When I came here in 2005 this site was a camel farm. To think that it is going to have international exposure on April 22 gives you a warm feeling that the dream is starting to come true." Follow the match action here with The National. Teams Australia: Clarke, Haddin, Watson, Symonds, Marsh, Ferguson, Hopes, Hauritz, Bracken, Clark, Hilfenhaus. Pakistan: Jamshaid, Butt, Khan, Malik, Ul Haq, Afridi, Akmal, Gul, Akhtar, Anjum, Ajmal