Cricket: Australia thrashed by Pakistan

Australia have been made to pay for a dreadful batting performance with a four-wicket thrashing at the hands of Pakistan in their one-day international series opener in Dubai.

After leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took 6-38 to dismiss Australia for 168, Pakistan needed just 44.1 overs to cruise to 6-171.

Adding to Australia's woes, opener Shaun Marsh injured his left hamstring while batting, in what was his first match since badly tearing the same muscle in February.

Afridi's heroics with the ball were capped by causing Australia more pain with the bat, belting 24 from 16 balls, including five boundaries, in the middle order.

Three of those boundaries came in a wasteful 35th over from Australian paceman Ben Hilfenhaus, in which he conceded 18 runs in the over's first three legitimate deliveries.

After being belted down the ground for four on each of the first two balls, Hilfenhaus fired in successive wayward bouncers, both of which were called wide, with the second going over wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's head to the boundary.

Afridi smacked the following ball for a straight four, before attempting an even bigger hit on the next, but mistiming it and lofting to mid-on for a catch.

But the damage he caused was enough to leave Pakistan within 30 runs of victory with 15 overs to play, ensuring they cruised home.

Opener Kamran Akmal (48) had earlier got Pakistan's simple run-chase off to a solid start.

All-rounder James Hopes was the one real shining light for Australia, scoring an unbeaten 48 from 46 balls to save his side from an even greater batting disaster, then taking 2-22 from eight overs.

With the second game of the five-match series to be played on Friday at the same venue, Australia will need a quick form reversal.

Wednesday night's loss continued some disappointing limited overs form in recent months, having lost two one-day series against South Africa, with a drawn series against New Zealand in between.

After winning the toss, Australia started the match brightly, opener Brad Haddin (40 from 52 balls) and No.3 Shane Watson (40 from 47) taking the score to 1-95 in the 19th over.

Watson looked in fine touch in his comeback game after being out of the national side since late last year because of back stress fractures.

But Pakistani slow bowlers Afridi and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal turned the innings on its head.

Afridi, whose figures were the best of his 272-game career, and Ajmal, who took 2-19 from his 10 overs, combined to bring about a slump of 8-27 in 12.1 overs to leave Australia reeling at 9-122.

Hopes dominated a last-wicket stand of 46 with tailender Ben Hilfenhaus to lift Australia's stocks slightly, but not enough to cause Pakistan any troubles in their run-chase.

- AAP