Durban, April 22: Shahid Afridi exposed Australia’s frailties against spin to help Pakistan rout their opponents for 168 in the first one-day international at the Dubai Stadium here on Wednesday.

Leg-spinner Afridi took a career-best 6/38 and was ably supported by off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (2/19) as the duo triggered a middle-order collapse after Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

Australia were sailing merrily at 95/1 in the 19th over before losing eight wickets for 27 runs as their batsmen crumbled on the newly built Dubai Stadium pitch to the bowling attack of Afridi and Ajmal.

Aussie all-rounder James Hopes, who top-scored with 48 not out, added 46 for the last wicket — a record against Pakistan in one-dayers — with Ben Hilfenhaus (four) to give some respectability to the total.

Australia had raced to 41 as openers Shaun Marsh (16) and Brad Haddin easily negotiated the pace of Gul and Shoaib Akhtar before Marsh was run out.

Shane Watson (40) helped Haddin (40) add 54 for the second wicket but once the spinners came, wickets fell like nine pins. Australia lost Haddin and Watson — both falling to Afridi in quick succession — and the innings derailed.

— AFP