The Dubai pitch for Sunday’s Twenty20 game was a “bunsen burner” and Tuesday’s deck for the opening one-dayer in Sharjah was also a delight for spinners.

However Australia’s left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson still gained alarming bounce, as did Pakistan’s 216cm danger man Mohammad Irfan.

Left-armer Irfan, a former pipe-factory worker from the eastern Pakistan town of Gaggu Mandi, gave Johnson’s technique against pace a thorough examination during the Australian tailender’s innings of 21.

When it was Johnson’s time to bowl, his second over with the new ball included a delivery that reared over wicketkeeper Brad Haddin’s head, bouncing only once before flying over the boundary rope for four byes.

Irfan took 1-35 from his 10 overs and troubled most batsmen.

Legspinner Shahid Afridi was Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker with 3-46, while for Australia their wickets were shared by Johnson (3-24) and spinners Glenn Maxwell and Nathan Lyon who took two each.

Australia have drafted left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty into their squad for the final two one-day games in Dubai on Friday and Abu Dhabi on Sunday, on pitches that are expected to turn sharply.

But after one match in the one-day series, it’s clear pace is a key weapon for both sides.

Australia’s century-maker Steve Smith said Irfan’s height made him tricky to face.

“He comes from over the sightscreen so it’s quite tough,” Smith said.

“The wicket was a little bit skiddy today so the quicks were in the game.

“Mitch Johnson bowled really fast for us and got them in a few uncomfortable positions and it worked out well.”

And while Johnson was handy with the bat with his knock of 21, Irfan stole the show with two successive sixes batting at No.11 in Pakistan’s total of 162 chasing 256 to win.

In a wholehearted display which briefly lifted the spirits of the pro-Pakistan crowd in Sharjah, Irfan crunched one six not only over the rope but out of the ground into the training nets area over square leg.

The big man’s demise came came in slapstick fashion when he played a shot to mid-off, was too slow to regain his ground at the striker’s end and was run out by David Warner’s direct hit.