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Dubai: David Warner underlined his value to the Australian team with a half-century to steer the Aussies to a six-wicket victory in their Twenty20 against Pakistan in Dubai early this morning.
Warner brought up his 50 with an audacious switch-hit slog sweep for six and celebrated by rocking his bat, a signal to fiancée Candice Falzon and new baby Ivy Mae.
Warner hit four fours and three sixes in a 39-ball knock of 53, as the tourists cruised home with more than six overs to spare.
Having restricted Pakistan to 9-96 from 20 overs with an impressive effort in the field, helped by some slopping batting, Australia had wobbled in their run chase, losing 3-18 before Warner took matters into his own hands.
The left-handed opener blasted 17 from six balls across the 11th and 12th overs to end Pakistan's resistance and send fans streaming towards the exits.
The Dubai venue is nicknamed the Ring of Fire for its unique design of spotlights encircling the stadium, and with a 25,000-strong sell-out crowd in a festive mood, it made for an intimidating atmosphere early on after Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi had elected to bat.
But that soon changed midway through the third over when Glenn Maxwell, thrown the new ball by debutant Australia skipper Aaron Finch, struck the breakthrough.
Maxwell (3-13) bowled three overs to open the innings, leaving the hosts reeling at 3-23.
The figure would have been worse for Pakistan if the odd wayward delivery had not yielded 11 extras in the first five overs.
The bowlers were also helped by some outstanding fielding. Phillip Hughes and Sean Abbott both saved boundaries with committed dives fielding in the ring during the powerplay overs.
Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson and Abbott all took wickets in their first overs. Australia's fourth debutant in this match, Hughes, perhaps wished he had been called upon to bowl.
Boyce got one to turn sharply and a loose shot saw Ahmed Shehzad (10) caught by Finch at first slip.
Richardson hurried Umar Akmal (1) into skying a catch to Warner and Abbott had one tail back into Afridi (2) at 142kph to have him lbw.
Saad Nasim, the 24-year-old debutant, was Pakistan's most composed player, reaching 25 before he was bowled by a yorker from Mitchell Starc.
James Faulkner picked up a late wicket when Wahab Riaz (16) was well caught by a running Starc after top-edging an attempted heave from a slower ball.
Richardson was entrusted with the final over, conceding just three to finish with 1-13 from his three overs.
Australia started brightly enough in their run chase despite losing Finch in the third over.
And when Maxwell reverse swept his third ball over the infield for four, he and Warner took 15 from Mohammed Irfan's second over to put the tourists well on top.
Maxwell fell for 17, seemingly caught in two minds about which shot to play, only to miss an Afridi top-spinner to be plum lbw.
And when Steven Smith (3) danced down the pitch only to chip Raza Hasan to mid-off, and Hughes (8) top-edged Riaz, the small but vocal contingent of watching Australians may have shifted nervously in their seats.
However a 41-run partnership between Warner and Faulkner (seven not out) steered Australia to the victory.
Earlier, Pakistan have won the toss and have opted to bat.
Four debutants for Aussies -- Sean Abbott, Cameron Boyce, Kane Richardson and Phil Hughes
Teams
Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Awais Zia, Sohaib Maqsood, Umar Akmal (wk), Umar Amin, Shahid Afridi (Capt.), Saad Nasim, Anwar Ali, Wahab Riaz, Raza Hasan, Mohammad Irfan
Australia: Aaron Finch (Capt.), David Warner, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Phillip Hughes, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin (wk), Sean Abbott, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Cameron Boyce
Brief scores
Pakistan - 96 for 9 (Maxwell 3-13, Boyce 2-10)
Australia - 97 for 4 (Warner 53*, Hasan 2-17)
Result - Australia won by 6 wickets
MOM - Glenn Maxwell (Australia)
