Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon made the perfect start to the tour of UAE as he picked up five wickets on the first day of a warm-up match in Dubai on Saturday.

The 30-year-old showed he will be a major threat during next month’s two-match Test against Pakistan as he took 5-87 against Pakistan ‘A’ in their four-day practice game. The first Test starts in Dubai from October 7 and the second in Abu Dhabi from October 16.

Australia’s new-ball pair of Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser failed to strike as Pakistan ‘A’ moved to 24-0, before Lyon removed internationals Shan Masood (14) and Sami Aslam (51).

Left-arm spinner Jon Holland dismissed Pakistan ‘A’ captain and Test batsman Asad Shafiq for 14 before Abid Ali fought back and remained 83 not out at stumps. Ali hit just boundaries during his 254-ball knock.

Lyon, with 306 wickets from 78 Tests, then removed Iftikhar Ahmed (four), Usman Salahuddin (one) and Saad Ali for 36 in a mammoth 36-over spell in the heat.

Starc, leading the attack in the absence of injured Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, bowled 17 overs to show he has recovered from the stress fracture he suffered in South Africa earlier this year.