Australia pace bowler Mitchell Starc continued his brilliant first month as a Twenty20 International cricketer by claiming 3-20 as Pakistan scored 6-149 in their World T20 Super Eights clash on Tuesday night.

Invited to bat first, Pakistan were in early trouble at 2-29 but recovered through the efforts of Nasir Jamshed (55) and Kamran Akmal (32) who shared a third-wicket stand of 79.

Jamshed was dropped on zero at first slip by Glenn Maxwell off Starc’s bowling in a telling blow to Australia’s hopes of keeping Pakistan to a low total.

Starc’s inswinger had earlier trapped Mohammad Hafeez lbw for four in the second over and Imran Nazir (14) was caught at mid-off from Shane Watson’s bowling.

Jamshed holed out to long-on from spinner Xavier Doherty’s bowling at 3-108.

Kamran Akmal, whose ability to play the wrong shot at the wrong time is well-documented, handed Starc his second wicket by hitting a catch to cover two balls later just when his side needed a steadying influence.

Abdul Razzaq made 22 and Shahid Afridi (four) was bowled by Starc in the final over.

It was Starc’s third three-wicket haul in just seven T20 Internationals after making his debut against Pakistan on September 7 in Dubai.

While Watson (1-23 off four overs) was economical, veteran spinner Brad Hogg (0-29 off three) posed few terrors for Pakistan’s batsmen and young quick Pat Cummins (1-42 off four) was also expensive.

Victory on Tuesday night would mean Australia face West Indies in Friday’s semi-final and a narrow loss would probably still get Australia through to the semi-finals, possibly against Sri Lanka on Thursday.