SHARJAH, Aug 26: Former world champions Australia defeated a battling Afghanistan team by 66 runs in the first-ever One-day International between the two sides here on Saturday.
Australia did well to reach 272-8 in their 50 overs despite some hiccups in the middle overs before overcoming a tough mid-innings resistance by Afghanistan who in the end were bowled out for 206 in 43.5 overs.
Michael Clarke hit a 94-ball 75 while Matthew Wade also made 75 off 108 balls to take Australia to a fighting total on a drySharjah Cricket Association Stadium pitch in sultry 35-plus degree heat.
The match was Afghanistan’s second against a full Test-playing side after they met Pakistan in February this year.
New-ball bowlers Mitchell Starc (4-47) and James Pattinson (3-46) then rattled Afghanistan’s top order with some vicious short and full length deliveries.
Opener Karim Sadiq hit the innings’ first delivery for a boundary, but Starc then clattered Sadiq on the helmet to fell the batsman before bowling him with a delivery that nipped back sharply.
Starc earlier had Javed Ahmedi (0) in his first over, while Pattinson dismissed Mohammad Shahzad (11) and skipper Nawroz Mangal (0) in his sixth over to leave Afghanistan reeling at 49-4.
But Asghar Stanikzai, with a 106-ball 66, and Mohammad Nabi, with an aggressive 60-ball 46, put on an impressive 86-run stand for the fifth wicket to push Australia onto the back foot.
Nabi hit four towering sixes and three boundaries while Stanikzai sent six balls to the ropes.
But Afghanistan’s resistance waned once both fell in the space of five overs.
Nabi became one of Mitchell Johnson’s two wickets while Clarke pulled off a sensational catch at mid-wicket off Pattinson to end Stanikzai’s knock.
Earlier Australia, who lost opener David Warner (24) to seamer Shapoor Zadran in the seventh over, were coasting along with Clarke and Wade adding an invaluable 131 for the second wicket.
But Australia lost four wickets in the space of 42 runs as off-spinner Nabi (2-50) broke the stand by catching Wade off his own bowling.
Wade hit two fours and a towering six.
In his next over, Nabi had debutant Glenn Maxwell caught at long-on for two to leave Australia at 172-3.
Clarke, who hit three boundaries and a six, was stumped off spinner Samiullah Shinwari as he jumped out of the crease but missed the ball.
Michael Hussey (49) and George Bailey (23) added a rapid 53 for the sixth wicket in just five overs to ensure Australia put up a fighting total.—AFP