Need to read game well - Whatmore

Although Pakistan spinners gained a stranglehold on the Australian batsmen to make their chase of 199 difficult on a slow wicket in Sharjah, coach Dav Whatmore stressed on his team's need to "read the game well" to gain positions of advantage in matches, ahead of the second ODI in Abu Dhabi.

Pakistan lost their last six wickets for 38 runs to capitulate for 198, which proved costly as the low target allowed Australia to cut out the risks as they pushed for a win.

"Reading the game is very important. If the players can read the game well, they are in a better position to respond. It is not just about losing wickets. It is also about why, how and what you do next. We have some wonderful young players and they have to change their thinking sooner rather than later," Whatmore said.

Saeed Ajmal took three wickets and Mohammad Hafeez two as all six wickets fell to spinners, who together maintained an economy rate of 3.20. Whatmore praised them for putting Australia under pressure early.

"Our spinners did well against Australia. Their economy rate was very good. We bowled like I expected them to. But credit has to be given to Australia for the way they countered our spinners. But if they had a few more runs to chase, it would have been a different kettle of fish.

"I'm disappointed that we could not win the first game. We made a couple of errors."