Shahid Afridi claimed six victims to pave the way for Pakistan to claim victory by four wickets in its opening one-day international against Australia in Dubai.
The Pakistan all-rounder claimed career-best figures of 6-38 as Australia could only manage 168 in an innings that lasted just 38.5 overs.
The world champions again lost their way in the middle overs, losing 8-27 at one stage as they wilted against Afridi's spin.
It could have been worse for the Australians who relied on a last-wicket stand of 46 runs between James Hopes (48 not out) and Ben Hilfenhaus (four) to give their score some respectability.
Pakistan's reply, while slow going at times, always looked on track with Kamran Akmal hitting 48 at the top of the order before Misbah-ul-Haq anchored the innings with an unbeaten 30 from 68 balls.
A near-capacity crowd filled the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium as the venue hosted international cricket for the first time.
The postponed series, which was originally due to be played last year, had been moved from Pakistan to neutral turf because the Australian team harboured security concerns about touring the strife-torn nation.
That meant this series came after its 3-2 series defeat to South Africa, when Australia's middle order had shown weakness against spin.
That again proved to be the case on Wednesday after openers Brad Haddin and Shaun Marsh had got it off to a solid start. They added 41 in nine overs before Marsh, who re-injured the hamstring injury that kept him out of the South Africa series, was run out for 16.
Haddin, who was dropped by Shoaib Akhtar while on 38, although the chance was a difficult one, was joined by Shane Watson and the pair put Australia back on top with a 54-run stand for the second wicket.
Watson played the dominant hand, blasting two fours and a six while racing along at better than a run a ball.
All that ended when Pakistan captain Younus Khan brought his spinners on.
Afridi made the breakthrough in his fifth over, inducing an expansive drive from Haddin (40) which was snapped up by Younus at short cover.
That prompted Australia's stunning collapse with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (two for 19) also getting in on the act.
Ajmal snared stand-in Australia skipper Michael Clarke (four) cheaply, while Afridi picked up the wicket of Watson (40) - bowled while playing down the wrong line - in his next over.
Andrew Symonds (two) offered little on his return to the team after spending nine months on the sidelines.
Callum Ferguson (two), Nathan Bracken (one) and Stuart Clark (two) followed in quick succession as Australia slipped from 2-95 to 9-122.
Hopes revived the innings at the end, but Gul ended it, clean bowling Hilfenhaus.
The early end to Australia's innings meant Pakistan was forced to bat for seven overs before the interval and lost Salman Butt for five when Hilfenhaus trapped him lbw.
Kamran and Younus avoided any further damage before the break to steer Pakistan to 1-25.
Younus (11) fell soon after the re-start when he was frustrated into playing a cross-bat shot off Hopes which he mis-timed to Bracken at mid-off.
Kamran, however, kept the scoreboard ticking over and had closed to within two runs of a deserved half-century when Stuart Clark had him caught behind by Haddin.
Australia showed signs of a fightback when it then had Shoaib Malik (24) caught by Haddin off Hopes shortly after, to leave Pakistan on 4-99.
But Pakistan got the steadying innings it needed from Misbah.
With Afridi adding a quickfire 24, Misbah was content to play a patient a role, eventually guiding his team home with 5.5 overs to spare.
The Pakistan all-rounder claimed career-best figures of 6-38 as Australia could only manage 168 in an innings that lasted just 38.5 overs.
The world champions again lost their way in the middle overs, losing 8-27 at one stage as they wilted against Afridi's spin.
It could have been worse for the Australians who relied on a last-wicket stand of 46 runs between James Hopes (48 not out) and Ben Hilfenhaus (four) to give their score some respectability.
Pakistan's reply, while slow going at times, always looked on track with Kamran Akmal hitting 48 at the top of the order before Misbah-ul-Haq anchored the innings with an unbeaten 30 from 68 balls.
A near-capacity crowd filled the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium as the venue hosted international cricket for the first time.
The postponed series, which was originally due to be played last year, had been moved from Pakistan to neutral turf because the Australian team harboured security concerns about touring the strife-torn nation.
That meant this series came after its 3-2 series defeat to South Africa, when Australia's middle order had shown weakness against spin.
That again proved to be the case on Wednesday after openers Brad Haddin and Shaun Marsh had got it off to a solid start. They added 41 in nine overs before Marsh, who re-injured the hamstring injury that kept him out of the South Africa series, was run out for 16.
Haddin, who was dropped by Shoaib Akhtar while on 38, although the chance was a difficult one, was joined by Shane Watson and the pair put Australia back on top with a 54-run stand for the second wicket.
Watson played the dominant hand, blasting two fours and a six while racing along at better than a run a ball.
All that ended when Pakistan captain Younus Khan brought his spinners on.
Afridi made the breakthrough in his fifth over, inducing an expansive drive from Haddin (40) which was snapped up by Younus at short cover.
That prompted Australia's stunning collapse with off-spinner Saeed Ajmal (two for 19) also getting in on the act.
Ajmal snared stand-in Australia skipper Michael Clarke (four) cheaply, while Afridi picked up the wicket of Watson (40) - bowled while playing down the wrong line - in his next over.
Andrew Symonds (two) offered little on his return to the team after spending nine months on the sidelines.
Callum Ferguson (two), Nathan Bracken (one) and Stuart Clark (two) followed in quick succession as Australia slipped from 2-95 to 9-122.
Hopes revived the innings at the end, but Gul ended it, clean bowling Hilfenhaus.
The early end to Australia's innings meant Pakistan was forced to bat for seven overs before the interval and lost Salman Butt for five when Hilfenhaus trapped him lbw.
Kamran and Younus avoided any further damage before the break to steer Pakistan to 1-25.
Younus (11) fell soon after the re-start when he was frustrated into playing a cross-bat shot off Hopes which he mis-timed to Bracken at mid-off.
Kamran, however, kept the scoreboard ticking over and had closed to within two runs of a deserved half-century when Stuart Clark had him caught behind by Haddin.
Australia showed signs of a fightback when it then had Shoaib Malik (24) caught by Haddin off Hopes shortly after, to leave Pakistan on 4-99.
But Pakistan got the steadying innings it needed from Misbah.
With Afridi adding a quickfire 24, Misbah was content to play a patient a role, eventually guiding his team home with 5.5 overs to spare.
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