DUBAI, UAE (Reuters) – Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi shared the bowling honours as Pakistan defeated Australia by seven wickets in a Twenty20 match yesterday.

Paceman Gul snared four wickets for just eight runs and wrist-spinner Afridi returned a three-wicket haul to help Pakistan bowl out the Australians for a paltry 108.

Pakistan, spearheaded by an unbeaten half-century from Kamran Akram, reached the target of 109 in 16.2 overs.

Australia, electing to bat after winning the toss, were off to a steady start with Shane Watson and skipper Brad Haddin sharing a 42-run stand in 25 balls.

The innings took a dramatic turn, though, after Watson was bowled for 33 by a charged-up Gul.

Afridi changed the complexion of the game by removing James Hopes and Andrew Symonds off successive balls. With Pakistan bowlers striking at regular intervals, Australia were eventually bowled out for 108 in the last over.

Pakistan stuttered early in their innings, losing debutant Ahmed Shehzad and Salman Butt for 23 runs by the fourth over.

But the in-form Akram, who top-scored with 59 off 42 balls with five fours and three sixes, and Misbah-ul Haq (24) batted with authority and conviction to secure a comfortable victory.

“It was a disappointing result. But then Pakistan played better. We have to accept the result,” Haddin told reporters.

Stand-in Pakistan captain Misbah said: “I think Shahid and Umar bowled very well. They did the job for us. No doubt Kamran Akram is in great form and he helped us seal the victory.

“Our thoughts are on the forthcoming ICC Twenty20 World Cup, I hope we can maintain the momentum.”

AUSTRALIA innings
S. Watson lbw b Gul 33
B. Haddin c Gul b Malik 24
J. Hopes lbw b Afridi 6
A. Symonds lbw b Afridi 0
D. Hussey b Afridi 4
C. Ferguson stp. Akmal b Malik 8
M. North b Gul 20
N. Hauritz c Malik b Gul 2
B. Lee b Gul 0
N. Bracken not out 3
B. Hilfenhaus b Afridi b Ajmal 2
Extras: (lb-3, w-1, nb-2) 6
Total: (all out, 19.5 overs) 108
Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-61, 3-61, 4-69, 5-73, 6-85, 7-94, 8-94, 9-105.
Bowling: Shoaib Akhtar 2-0-18-0 (nb-1), Sohail Tanvir 3-0-32-0 (nb-1), Umar Gul 4-0-8-4 (w-1), Saeed Ajmal 3.5-0-19-1, Shahid Afridi 4-1-14-3, Shoaib Malik 3-0-14-2.

PAKISTAN innings
S. Butt c Hopes b Hilfenhaus 16
A. Shehzad c sub b Lee 4
K. Akmal not out 59
Misbah-ul-Haq c Bracken b Hauritz 24
S. Malik not out 0
Extras: (w-5, nb-1) 6
Total: (three wickets; 16.2 overs) 109
Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-23, 3-108.
Bowling: B. Lee 4-0-22-1 (nb-1), N. Bracken 3-0-24-0 (w-2), B.Hilfenhaus 4-0-20-1, N. Hauritz 3.2-0-20-1 (w-1), J. Hopes 2-0-23-0 (w-2).