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Michael Clarke fails again as Australia lose warmup

Skipper Michael Clarke failed again as Australia lost a four-day warmup game against Pakistan `A` by 153 runs in Sharjah on Saturday.

Michael Clarke fails again as Australia lose warmup

Sharjah: Skipper Michael Clarke failed again as Australia lost a four-day warmup game against Pakistan `A` by 153 runs in Sharjah on Saturday.

Clarke, who is recovering from a hamstring injury and needed some batting practice ahead of Wednesday`s first Test against Pakistan in Dubai, managed just five off as many balls before he was bowled by left-arm paceman Rahat Ali on the fourth and final day at Sharjah stadium.

Clarke made just ten in the first innings but not much can be read into Australia`s loss as the match was meant for practice only.

Australia, chasing 339 to win were bowled out for 185 in their second innings with paceman Mohammad Talha (3-32) and left-arm spinner Raza Hasan (3-60) destroying Australia`s plans for some useful practice.

Pakistan `A` had made 305-8 declared and 306-3 declared in their two innings.

Australia had made 273-8 declared in their first knock.

Hughes promised a different showing in the Tests.

"It`s good to see them going out there and perfoming well," said Hughes of Pakistan `A.` "But it`s going to be a different story and a different pressure in a Test match."

Pakistan `A` captain Asad Shafiq said it was good to see Clarke out cheaply.

"It`s an inspiration to get Clarke out early in both the innings and very satisfactory but I don`t think this win means much as it was just a practice game," said Shafiq who scored a hundred in the first innings.

"But surely this win gives confidence to some of our players who will play in the Test," said Shafiq, a regular member of Pakistan`s Test squad.

Also failing in both the innings was opener Chris Rogers who followed his first-ball duck with three in the second outing before he was run out.

But the other opener, Phil Hughes, made 65, fit-again Mitchell Marsh scored 35 and tail-ender Peter Siddle hit 41 as Australia lost their last seven wickets for just 68 runs.

Ali (2-36), likely to spearhead Pakistan`s pace attack in the first Test with Talha, was also impressive.

The second Test will start in Abu Dhabi from October 30.
Brief scores:

Pakistan `A` 305-8 dec (Asad Shafiq 108 not out; S. O`Keefe 3-76) and 306-3 declared (Babar Azam 114 not out, Haris Sohail 103 not out; N. Lyon 2-49) 

Australia 273-8 dec (A. Doolan 104, S. Smith 58) and Australia 185 all out (P. Hughes 65, P. Siddle 41, M. Marsh 35 ; Mohammad Talha 3-32; Raza Hasan 3-60)