September 19, 2007	Wednesday	Ramazan 06, 1428

JOHANNESBURG, Sept 18: Captain Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq put on a century partnership as Pakistan stunned Australia by six wickets in the World Twenty20 Super Eights match here on Tuesday.

The pair put on 119 off 78 balls for the unbroken fifth wicket to help their team recover from 46-4 and surpass Australia’s 164-7 with five balls to spare in the Group F match at the Wanderers.

Man-of-the Match Misbah smashed 66 not out off 42 balls and Shoaib chipped in with an unbeaten 52 as Pakistan virtually assured themselves of a place in the semi-finals.Pakistan’s second win in the group, following the 33-run win over Sri Lanka on Monday, left them needing a point against Bangladesh in Cape Town on Thursday to move into the last four.

Australia, who must beat Sri Lanka on Thursday to stay in contention for the semi-finals, were left to ponder the jinx that the Wanderers ground holds for them.

It was Australia’s first appearance at the historic venue since South Africa successfully chased their formidable 434 with one ball to spare in a memorable One-day International in March, 2006.Shoaib and Misbah came to the crease with Pakistan tottering at 46-4 after Stuart Clark grabbed three wickets in his first seven deliveries.

Misbah cracked seven boundaries and a six and Shoaib hit four fours and two sixes to give Pakistan an emphatic victory over one of the most formidable teams in the 12-nation tournament.

The winning run came through a waist-high full toss bowled by Andrew Symonds which was signalled a wide.

The success was set up by young left-arm seamer Sohail Tanvir, who claimed 3-31 in four impressive overs to keep the formidable Australian batting down to 164-7.

The 22-year-old led a disciplined bowling by the Pakistanis after Shoaib won the toss and elected to field in good batting conditions.

The Australian innings was marked by just one six from Michael Hussey, who top-scored with 37 off 25 balls.

Hussey and Brad Hodge put on 63 in 40 balls for the fifth wicket to boost the total after Australia were struggling at 92-4 in the 12th.

Australia were rattled at the start by Tanvir, who dismissed openers Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist in his first two overs.

Hayden flicked a catch to mid-wicket after making one and Gilchrist, who smashed 24 off 12 balls, was caught at point to make Australia 32-2 in the four over.

Symonds helped captain Ricky Ponting add 48 for the third wicket, himself making an 18-ball 29 when he was bowled by leg-spinner Shahid Afridi in the ninth over.

Three overs later, Ponting attempted to pull Mohammad Hafeez, missed the line and was bowled for 27 to leave his team at 92-4 in the 12th.

Hussey struck the only six of the innings in the 16th over when he lofted Afridi over the straight field and then flicked a boundary later in the over.

Tanvir returned for his final over to dismiss the dangerous Hussey before Mohammad Asif claimed Brad Hodge for 36.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA:

A.C. Gilchrist c Hafeez b Sohail Tanvir 24

M.L. Hayden c Younis b Sohail Tanvir 1

R.T. Ponting b Hafeez 27

A. Symonds b Afridi 29

M.E.K. Hussey c Imran b Sohail Tanvir 37

B.J. Hodge c Younis b Asif 36

M.J. Clarke run out 0

B. Lee not out 2

M.G. Johnson not out 1

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-3, W-3) 7

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs) 164

FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-32, 3-80, 4-92, 5-155, 6-159, 7-162.

DID NOT BAT: N.W. Bracken, S.R. Clark.

BOWLING: Mohammad Asif 4-0-34-1 (2w); Sohail Tanvir 4-0-31-3 (1w); Shahid Afridi 4-1-35-1; Mohammad Hafeez 4-0-31-1; Umar Gul 4-0-29-0.

PAKISTAN:

Imran Nazir c Johnson b Clark 10

Mohammad Hafeez c Clarke b Clark 15

Salman Butt lbw b Johnson 11

Younis Khan c Lee b Clark 4

Shoaib Malik not out 52

Misbah-ul-Haq not out 66

EXTRAS (LB-1, W-5, NB-1) 7

TOTAL (for four wkts, 19.1 overs) 165

FALL OF WKTS: 1-25, 2-27, 3-35, 4-46.

DID NOT BAT: Shahid Afridi, Kamran Akmal, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif.

BOWLING: Lee 4-0-30-0 (1nb); Bracken 4-0-35-0; Clark 4-0-27-3; Johnson 4-0-28-1 (4w); Symonds 2.1-0-27-0 (1w); Clarke 1-0-17-0.

RESULT: Pakistan won by six wickets.UMPIRES: M.R. Benson and N.J. Llong (both England).

TV UMPIRE: D.J. Harper (Australia).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Misbah-ul-Haq.—AFP