Scorecard: Australia v Pakistan A

Quick Single: O'Keefe thrives working with Murali

Stephen O'Keefe enhanced his chances of receiving a Baggy Green, picking up three wickets in a solid display for the Australians on the first day of their tour match against Pakistan A in Sharjah.

O'Keefe found turn and drift in the final session, causing some problems for the Pakistan batsmen as they finished their allotted 90-overs at 8-305.

The Pakistan A total was boosted by some big hitting late in the day as Asad Shafiq pushed the accelerator to reach a century. He clipped Mitchell Johnson for consecutive fours, then pulled Peter Siddle to the square leg-fence to bring up the milestone. He celebrated with a straight-driven six next ball.

O'Keefe finished with 3-76 from 23 overs, including eight maidens to be the pick of the Australian bowlers.

O'Keefe collected his first wicket by drawing a miscue from the advancing Babar Azam (40), who instead of lofting down the ground as intended found only James Faulkner at mid-on.

The NSW Blues left-armer added Harris Sohail (43) in the final session with a beautifully bowled ball that straightened through the gate.

Adnan Akmal (25) tried to guide a delivery down to third man, but instead guided it straight into the clutches of captain Michael Clarke for O'Keefe's third.

Amongst the wickets, O'Keefe took some punishment. The ball before he collected Sohail had been smashed over mid-wicket for six, and Asad Shafiq took 17 from his next over, including two towering straight sixes.

Nathan Lyon did not have as enjoyable a day, struggling to make inroads as he finished with figures of 0-68 from 19 overs.

O'Keefe's efforts perhaps added further weight to Michael Clarke's pre-match suggestion that two spinners was a likely make-up for the Test team to play Pakistan in Dubai next Wednesday.

Mitchell Johnson had started the day with the new ball and soon had the Pakistan batsman hopping. He drew an edge from left-hander Shan Masood (6), touted as a likely starter for Pakistan in the first Test, for an easy catch for Brad Haddin.

Johnson bowled regularly throughout the day in three-over bursts, and always troubled the Pakistan A batsmen.

Opening the final session, he extracted extra bounce with one delivery rearing up to take the shoulder of Shafiq's bat as he tried to dodge. The resultant edge flew over the slips cordon for a boundary that brought up Shafiq's half-century.

It was slow going for Pakistan A for much of the day, although Shafiq, the Pakistan A skipper and Test regular, did lift the run-rate to a touch above three in the last 15 overs with some big hitting.

Pakistan had recovered from a very shaky start – they were 2-11 in the third over – thanks to a half-century from Ahmed Shehzed (55).

The match conditions agreed between the teams before play will see each innings last for a maximum of 90 overs, with any unused overs from Pakistan A's first innings carrying over for the Australian batsmen to use.

Ben Hilfenhaus struck soon after the lunch break, claiming the wicket of Shehzad after he chopped on. The opener had put on 87 with Babar for the third wicket before he became O'Keefe's first victim.

Johnson struck in his second over, Masood (6) edging a ball that deviated just enough off the seam to take the edge and gift Brad Haddin an easy catch.

Pakistan No.3 Isarullah (5) followed next over, edging Siddle to Steven Smith at third slip to leave Pakistan A in trouble at 2-11 after just 21 balls.

Steve Smith was asked to bowl the final over of the Pakistan innings, and picked up the wicket of Mohammed Tahla(2), stumped by Haddin as he attempted a huge heave over the leg side.

Captain Michael Clarke and Mitchell Marsh both took their place in the Australians XI at the start of the day, while the inclusion of both Lyon and O'Keefe provided a strong hint towards the selectors' leanings ahead of next week's first Test in Dubai.

Clarke had already announced Marsh would not bowl in the Australians' first innings, and the Western Australian allrounder showed no ill effects of his hamstring troubles chasing down balls near the boundary and diving to save boundaries at mid-off.

Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner (held back from the one-day squad as cover for Marsh) were the only bowlers whose services were not called upon.

Opening batsman Dave Warner was rested from this match after straining a groin muscle in Sunday's one-day clash with Pakistan, although Cricket Australia said he had been set to sit out this match anyway.

The Australians will open day two with the bat, with Phil Hughes and Chris Rogers at the crease.

Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Haddin, Phil Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Johnson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.

Pakistan A: Asad Shafiq (capt), Shan Masood, Ahmed Shehzad, Babar Azam, Harris Sohail, Israr Ullah, Adnan Akmal, Raza Hasan, Karamat Ali, Imran Khan, Atta Ullah, Rahat Ali, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Talha.