Australia beat Pakistan by 21 runs in their World Twenty20 Super 10 stage match in Mohali on Friday to stay on course for the semi-finals and eliminate Shahid Afridi’s side from the tournament.
Australia skipper Steven Smith struck an unbeaten 63 off 43 to steer Australia to 193-4, before James Faulkner took five wickets, including two off consecutive deliveries in the final over, to help his team seal the win.
Man-of-the-match Faulkner gave away just 27 runs and was helped by another impressive performance by young leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who took two for 32.
Australia, batting first on a green-tinged pitch, lost three wickets in quick succession, with fit-again paceman Wahab Riaz doing the initial damage by bowling in-form Usman Khawaja for 21 and castling David Warner on nine.
Aaron Finch went next, bowled by left-arm spinner Imad Wasim for 15 to leave Australia struggling on 57-3.
Smith, however, steadied the ship aided first by Glenn Maxwell (30 off 24 deliveries) and then by the big-hitting Shane Watson.
Watson struck four fours and three sixes to race to an unbeaten 44 off 21 deliveries as Australia took 66 runs off the last five overs.
Pakistan got off to a poor start, losing Ahmed Shehzad for one, and Faulkner picked up the key wicket of opener Sharjeel Khan who smashed six boundaries en route to a quick-fire 30.
Zampa got into the act by getting Pakistani skipper Afridi stumped for 14 and bowled Umar Akmal, who was looking dangerous after racking up 32 in 20 balls.
But Faulkner took the plaudits with a match-winning performance, bowling the settled Khalid Latif (46 off 64 balls) before striking again next ball to get Wasim.
He was at it again at the death, dismissing Sarfraz Ahmed and Riaz with his first two deliveries as Pakistan, who needed 30 runs from the last six balls, ran out of steam.
The win took Australia to second place in the five-team group, behind New Zealand, who are already through to the semi-finals and ahead of India in third due to a superior net run rate.
Pakistan are fourth in the table ahead of Bangladesh, with one win and three defeats in four games.
Top Reads:
Watson set to hang boots at the end of World T20 | ‘Nobody will be happier than me if we can win this for Afridi’: Shoaib Malik | If you really thought Pakistan could beat India, you are Shahid Afridi | Jarrod Kimber: Pakistan’s T20 cricket is in a desert | Our cricket is 10 years behind the modern game: Wasim Akram
Match summary
Australia eliminated 2009 champion Pakistan in a 21-run group-stage win and kept alive its own hopes of a first World Twenty20 title.
Captain Steven Smith smashed seven fours in an unbeaten 61 off 43 balls to help post an imposing 193-4 after electing to bat in the Group 2 game. Pakistan could manage only 172-8 in reply, undone by James Faulkner’s 5-27.
With New Zealand already assured of a semifinal berth from the group with three straight wins, Australia’s next game against India here on Sunday has become a virtual quarterfinal with the winner advancing to the last four.
Shane Watson (44 not out in 21 balls) and Glenn Maxwell (30 in 18) helped Australia swell its total. For Pakistan, Khalid Latif (46) and Shoaib Malik (40 not out) were the main scorers.
Australia beat Pakistan by 21 runs
PAK 172/8 (Over 20)
S Malik, 40 (20) | M Sami, 4 (2)
19.6: Faulkner to Malik, 2 runs. Australia win!
19.5: Faulkner to Sami, 1 run
19.4: Faulkner to Sami, FOUR! One bounce into the fence.
19.3: Faulkner to Malik, 1 run
Mohammad Sami walks in.
19.2: Faulkner to Wahab, OUT! He bites the dust as well. Faulkner on a hat-trick.
Wahab Riaz is the new man in.
19.1: Faulkner to Sarfraz, OUT! Departs on 2 off 3.
Faulkner comes in to bowl the final over.
PAK 164/6 (Over 19)
S Malik, 37 (18) | S Ahmed, 2 (2)
18.6: Nile to Malik, FOUR! Into the gap on the off side.
18.5: Nile to Malik, SIX! Mighty! Out of the park!
18.4: Nile to Sarfraz, 1 run
18.3: Nile to Malik, 1 run
18.2: Nile to Sarfraz, 1 run
18.1: Nile to Malik, 1 run
Nile into the attack.
PAK 150/6 (Over 18) S Malik, 25 (14) | S Ahmed, 0 (0)
17.6: Faulkner to Malik, 1 Run
17.5: Faulkner to Malik, 2 Runs
17.4: Faulkner to Imad. OUT! Tries to go over long-on, but fails to cross the ring even. Nile takes an easy catch.
Imad Wasim walks in.
17.3: Faulkner to Latif, BOWLED HIM! Slower one does the trick. Goes after a painstaking 46 off 41.
17.2: Faulkner to Malik, 1 Run
17.1: Faulkner to Latif, 1 Run
James Faulkner comes in. He still has one more after this.
PAK 145/4 (Over 17) K Latif 45(39) | Malik 21(11)
16.6: Watson to Latif, 1 Run
16.5: Watson to Malik, 1 Run
16.4: Watson to Malik, FOUR Top edge - goes past the slip cordon
16.3: Watson to Malik, 2 Run
16.2: Watson to Latif, 1 Run
16.1: Watson to Malik, 1 Run
Shane Watson comes in
Pakistan require 60 runs with 25 balls remaining | REQ RR: 14.40
PAK 135/4 (Over 16) K Latif 43(37) | Malik 13(7)
15.6: Zampa to Malik, 1 Run
15.5: Zampa to Latif, 1 Run
15.4: Zampa to Latif, No Run
15.3: Zampa to Malik, 1 Run
15.2: Zampa to Malik, SIX! Comes down to the pitch of the ball and hits it 87 meters long.
15.1: Zampa to Latif, 1 Run
Zampa - the leggie - comes in
Pakistan require 69 off 30 BALLS
PAK 125/4 (Over 15) K Latif 41(34) | Malik 5(4)
14.6: Hazlewood to Latif, 1 Run
14.5: Hazlewood to Malik, 1 Run
14.4: Hazlewood to Malik, 2 Runs - Caresses the ball to third-man and picks up two
14.3: Hazlewood to Latif, 1 Run
14.2: Hazlewood to Latif, FOUR! Hits the full delivery - wide of the off-stump - at cover.
14.1: Hazlewood to Latif, 2 Run
Josh Hazlewood is brought back into the attack
PAK 114/4 (Over 14) K Latif, 33 (30) | S Malik, 2 (2)
13.6: Zampa to Latif, 1 Run
13.5: Zampa to Malik, 1 Run
13.4: Zampa to Latif, 1 Run
13.3: Zampa to Malik, 1 Run
Pakistan all-rounder Shoaib Malik walks in
13.2: Zampa to Afridi, OUT! Comes down again, but misses it. Neville - the wicketkeeper - stumps him.
13.1: Zampa to Afridi, SIX! Dancing shoes are on. Comes down the pitch and hits it over the side screen.
Zampa comes in
PAK 104/3 (Over 13) K Latif, 31 (28) | S Afridi, 8 (5)
12.6: Nile to Latif, No Run
12.5: Nile to Latif, FOUR! Another short-pitched delivery and Latif deposits it into the advertising board at the cow corner.
12.4: Nile to Afridi, 1 Run
12.3: Nile to Afridi, No Run - Bowls short and Afridi lets it go
12.2: Nile to Latif, 1 Run
12.1: Nile to Latif, FOUR! Clears the short mid-wicket and gets a boundary
Coulter-Nile is brought back by Steven Smith
PAK 94/3 (Over 12) S Afridi, 7 (3) | K Latif, 22 (24)
11.6: Maxwell to Afridi, SIX! Smacks it and clears the long-on with ease.
11.5: Maxwell to Latif, 1 Run - Goes down the track and sneaks a run
11.4: Maxwell to Latif, No Run
11.3: Maxwell to Latif, No Run
11.2: Maxwell to Latif, No Run - The off-spinner changes the angle.
11.1: Maxwell to Latif, No Run - Goes for a reverse sweep.
Maxwell continues
PAK 87/3 (Over 11) K Latif, 21 (19) | S Afridi, 1 (2)
10.6: Zampa to Latif, 1 Run
10.5: Zampa to Afridi, 1 Run
10.4: Zampa to Afridi, No Run
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi comes in to bat.
10.3: Zampa to Akmal, BOWLED! Akmal goes for a big heave over mid-wicket but fails to connect.
10.2: Zampa to Akmal, 2 Runs
10.1: Zampa to Akmal, FOUR! Targets the mid-wicket boundary, the ball falls just short of the fieler, the misfield adds four runs in Pakistan’s total
Zampa continues
Pakistan needs 115 off the last 10 overs.
PAK 79/2 (Over 10) U Akmal, 26 (17) | K Latif, 20 (18)
9.6: Maxwell to Akmal, 1 Run
9.5: Maxwell to Latif, 1 Run
9.4: Maxwell to Akmal, 1 Run
9.3: Maxwell to Latif, 1 Run
9.2: Maxwell to Akmal, 1 Run
9.1: Maxwell to Latif, 1 Run
Glenn Maxwell is brought in
PAK 73/2 (Over 9) U Akmal, 23 (14) | K Latif, 17 (15)
8.6: Faulkner to Akmal, No Run
8.5: Faulkner to Latif, 1 Run - Bye
8.4: Faulkner to Latif, SIX! Whacks it over Long-on, Latif’s bottom hands come into play.
8.3: Faulkner to Akmal, 1 Run
8.2: Faulkner to Akmal, 2 Run
8.1: Faulkner to Latif, 1 Run
Faulkner comes to bowl his second
PAK 62/2 (Over 8)
U Akmal, 20 (10) | K Latif, 10 (12)
7.6: Zampa to Akmal, No Run
7.5: Zampa to Latif, 1 Run
7.4: Zampa to Akmal 1 Run
7.3: Zampa to Akmal, No Run
7.2: Zampa to Latif, 1 Run
7.1: Zampa to Akmal, 1 Run
Steven Smith introduces spin, brings in Zampa
Ahsan Iftikhar Nagi on Shehzad’s dismissal
Ahmed Shehzad disappoints once again – goes back after scoring just one run.
It seemed that a totally different Shehzad turned up today than the one who showed up against Bangladesh. The right-hander not ony failed to connect, he was never behind the line of Hazelwood’s bowling. There was no feet movement either as Shehzad, who promised much after a successful PSL stint, cut a sorry figure.
Moreover, the 24-year old did not transfer his weight in the direction of the ball. The end result was what one should expect from a batsman with such a deplorable technique.
PAK 58/2 (Over 7)
U Akmal, 18 (7) | K Latif, 8 (10)
6.6: Watson to Akmal, 1 run
6.5: Watson to Akmal, FOUR! Muscles it towards long off. Powerful strike!
6.4: Watson to Akmal, FOUR! Too short, and too easy for the batsman to pull it into the gap on the leg side.
6.3: Watson to Akmal, 2 runs
6.2: Watson to Akmal, SIX! hits it over square leg.
6.1: Watson to Akmal, no run
Shane Watson into the attack.
PAK 41/2 (Over 6)
K Latif, 8 (10) | U Akmal, 1 (1)
5.6: Faulkner to Latif, no run
5.5: Faulkner to Latif, no run
5.4: Faulkner to Akmal, 1 run
Umar Akmal is the new man in.
5.3: Faulkner to Sharjeel, OUT! Big wicket! He tried to play a pull on a delivery which should have been drove through covers. Departs on 30 off 19 balls.
5.2: Faulkner to Sharjeel, no run
5.1: Faulkner to Sharjeel, FOUR! Into the gap on the leg side.
James Faulkner into the attack.
PAK 36/1 (Over 5)
K Latif, 8 (8) | S Khan, 26 (16)
4.6: Hazlewood to Latif, no run
4.5: Hazlewood to Latif, no run
4.4: Hazlewood to Latif, 2 runs
4.3: Hazlewood to Latif, FOUR! Muscles it towards long on.
4.2: Hazlewood to Latif, no run
4.1: Hazlewood to Latif, no run
Hazlewood into his third over.
This has become a regular sight for the Pakistan fans now
Shehzad has been struggling for a while now and despite being picked in the side after missing out on the first two occasions Pakistan picked their team, the young opener has failed to make it count
PAK 30/1 (Over 4)
S Khan, 26 (16) | K Latif, 2 (2)
3.6: Nile to Sharjeel, 2 runs
3.5: Nile to Sharjeel, no run
3.4: Nile to Sharjeel, no run
3.3: Nile to Sharjeel, FOUR! Cracking shot! Smacks it towards mid-wicket!
3.2: Nile to Sharjeel, 2 runs
3.1: Nile to Latif, 1 run
Nile continues.
PAK 21/1 (Over 3)
S Khan, 19 (12) | K Latif, 0 (0)
2.6: Hazlewood to Latif, 1 run
Khalid Latif is the new man in.
2.5: Hazlewood to Shehzad, OUT! Soft dismissal. Departs on 1 off 6 balls.
2.4: Hazlewood to Sharjeel, 1 run
2.3: Hazlewood to Sharjeel, FOUR! Short delivery, gives the treatment it deserves. Smashes it towards mid-wicket.
2.2: Hazlewood to Shehzad, 1 run
2.1: Hazlewood to Shehzad, no run
Hazlewood continues.
PAK 14/0 (Over 2)
S Khan, 13 (9) | A Shehzad, 0 (3)
1.6: Nile to Sharjeel, no run
1.5: Nile to Sharjeel, FOUR! Whacks it straight down the ground. Powerful strike!
1.4: Nile to Sharjeel, FOUR! Cuts it again, this time towards backward point.
1.3: Nile to Sharjeel, no run
1.2: Nile to Sharjeel, FOUR! Cuts it past the third-man fielder.
1.1: Nile to Sharjeel, no run
Coulter-Nile into the attack.
PAK 2/0 (Over 1)
A Shehzad, 0 (3) | S Khan, 1 (3)
0.6: Hazlewood to Shehzad, no run
0.5: Hazlewood to Shehzad, no run
0.4: Hazlewood to Shehzad, no run
0.3: Hazlewood to Sharjeel, 1 run
0.2: Hazlewood to Sharjeel, no run
0.2: Hazlewood to Sharjeel, (wide)
0.1: Hazlewood to Sharjeel, no run
Pakistan batsmen Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad open the innings. For Australia, Josh Hazlewood takes the new ball.
Pakistan need 194 runs to win in 20 overs
AUS 193/4 (Over 20)
S Watson, 44 (21) | S Smith, 61 (43)
19.6: Amir to Watson, 1 run
19.5: Amir to Watson, SIX! Smacks it over mid-wicket.
19.4: Amir to Watson, FOUR! Change of pace, the batsman top edges it over the wicketkeeper’s head.
19.3: Amir to Smith, 1 run
19.2: Amir to Smith, no run
19.1: Amir to Smith, no run
19.1: Amir to Watson, (wide + 1)
Amir comes in to bowl final over of the innings.
AUS 179/4 (Over 19)
S Smith, 61 (40) | S Watson, 34 (18)
18.6: Wahab to Smith, FOUR!
18.5: Wahab to Watson, 1 run
18.4: Wahab to Watson, 2 runs
18.3: Wahab to Watson, FOUR!
18.2: Wahab to Watson, no run
18.1: Wahab to Smith, 1 run
Wahab Riaz into the attack.
AUS 167/4 (Over 18)
S Smith, 56 (38) | S Watson, 27 (14)
17.6: Sami to Smith, 1 run
17.5: Sami to Smith, FOUR!
17.4: Sami to Watson, 1 run
17.3: Sami to Watson, SIX! Straight over cover and into the stands.
17.2: Sami to Smith, 1 run
17.1: Sami to Smith, 2 runs. He brings up his half century off 35 balls.
Sami is brought back into the attck
AUS 152/4 (Over 17) S Watson, 20 (12) | S Smith, 48 (34)
16.6: Amir to Watson, FOUR! Goes towards the deep third-man. Malik positioned at extra-cover got nowhere near the ball.
16.5: Amir to Watson, SIX! Flicks it! The ball travels 91 meters at the mid-wicket region.
16.4: Amir to Smith, 1 Run
16.3: Amir to Smith, FOUR! Squirts it at the off-side, Latif misfields it.
16.2: Amir to Watson, 1 Run
16.1: Amir to Smith, 1 Run
Amir comes in
AUS 135/4 (Over 16) Watson 9(9) | Smith 42(31)
15.6: Wahab to Smith, 1 Run
15.5: Wahab to Watson, 1 run
15.4: Wahab to Watson, FOUR! Short-ball and Watson is on to. Hits it with ease and grace.
The score predictor tells that Aussies will surpass 180 with ease. Will that be the case?
15.3: Wahab to Smith, 1 Run
15.2: Wahab to Smith, No Run
15.1: Wahab to Watson, 1 Run
Wahab comes in.
AUS 127/4 (Over 15) S Watson, 3 (6) | S Smith, 42 (28)
14.6: Afridi to Watson, 1 Run
14.5 Afridi to Watson, No Run
14.4: Afridi to Smith, 1 Run
14.3: Afridi to Watson, 1 Run
14.2: Afridi to Watson, No Run
14.1: Afridi to Watson, No Run
Afridi Continues
Project score: 177 @ 8.86 RPO
AUS 124/4 (Over 14)
S Smith, 41 (27) | S Watson, 1 (1)
13.6: Imad to Smith, FOUR! Goes on the backfoot and cuts the ball - wide of the off-stump.
13.5: Imad to Watson, 1 Run
The veteran Aussie all-rounder, Shane Watson, walks in.
13.4: Imad to Maxwell, OUT! Tries to go over Long-on, but hands it to Ahmed Shehzad, stationed there.
13.3 Imad to Smith, 1 Run
13.2: Imad to Smith, 2 Runs
13.1: Imad to Smith, FOUR! Drives it through the covers
Imad Continues.
AUS 112/3 (Over 13)
G Maxwell, 30 (17) | S Smith, 30 (23)
12.6: Sami to Maxwell, SIX! Times it over Long-off, the balls travels 84 meters.
12.5: Sami to Maxwell, FOUR! Pulls it at the mid-wicket region.
12.4: Sami to Maxwell, No Run
12.4: Sami to Maxwell, WIDE!
12.3: Sami to Maxwell, no run
12.2: Sami to Smith, 1 run
12.1: Sami to Smith, FOUR! Edges it towards third man.
12.1 Sami to Smith, (wide)
Sami into the attack.
Projected score: 158 @ 7.92 RPO
One feels anything upwards of 140 should test Pakistan. Australia well on course
AUS 95/3 (Over 12)
G Maxwell, 19 (13) | S Smith, 25 (21)
11.6: Imad to Smith, 1 Run
11.5: Imad to Maxwell, 1 Run
11.4: Imad to Smith, 1 Run
11.3: Imad to Maxwell, 1 Run
11.2: Imad to Smith, 1 Run
11.1: Imad to Smith, No Run
Imad Continues.
AUS 90/3 (Over 11)
G Maxwell, 18 (11) | S Smith, 22 (17)
10.6: Afridi to Maxwell, FOUR!
10.5: Afridi to Maxwell, 2 runs
10.4: Afridi to Smith, 1 run
10.3: Afridi to Maxwell, 1 run
10.2: Afridi to Maxwell, FOUR! Reverse sweep, top edges it straight over the head of wicketkeeper.
10.1: Afridi to Smith, 1 run
Afridi continues.
Hard to understand what Pakistan are trying to achieve by giving away 6 singles to Australia. Smith and Maxwell getting their eye in for a late assault and Afridi only making their job easier. They picked up 7 runs in the last over without hitting a boundary
AUS 77/3 (Over 10)
S Smith, 20 (15) | G Maxwell, 7 (7)
9.6: Imad to Smith, 1 run
9.5: Imad to Maxwell, 1 run
9.4: Imad to Maxwell, 2 runs
9.3: Imad to Smith, 1 run
9.2: Imad to Smith, 2 runs
9.1: Imad to Smith, no run
Imad into the attack.
AUS 70/3 (Over 9)
S Smith, 16 (11) | G Maxwell, 4 (5)
8.6: Afridi to Smith, 1 run
8.5: Afridi to Smith, 2 runs
8.4: Afridi to Maxwell, 1 run
8.3: Afridi to Smith, 1 run
8.2: Afridi to Maxwell, 1 run
8.1: Afridi to Maxwell, no run
Afridi continues.
AUS 64/3 (Over 8)
G Maxwell, 2 (2) | S Smith, 12 (8)
7.6: Imad to Maxwell, 1 run
7.5: Imad to Smith, 1 run
7.4: Imad to Smith, FOUR! Sweeps it towards fine leg.
7.3: Imad to Maxwell, 1 run
Glen Maxwell is the new batsman in.
7.2: Imad to Finch, OUT! Big wicket! Bowled him! He departs on 15.
7.1: Imad to Finch, no run
Imad Wasim into the attack.
AUS 56/2 (Over 7)
S Smith, 7 (6) | A Finch, 15 (14)
6.6: Afridi to Smith, 1 Run
6.5: Afridi to Finch, No Run
6.4: Afridi to Smith, 1 Run
6.3: Afridi to Finch, 1 Run
6.2: Afridi to Smith, 1 Run
6.1: Afridi to Finch, 1 Run
Afridi to bowl
AUS 51/2 (Over 6)
S Smith, 4 (4) | A Finch, 12 (10)
5.6: Wahab to Smith, FOUR! Leg-byes
5.5: Wahab to Smith, 4 Runs
5.4: Wahab to Smith, No Run
5.3: Wahab to Finch, 1 Run
5.2: Wahab to Smith, 1 Run
Aussie Skipper Steven Smith Walks in
5.1: Wahab to Warner, BOWLS HIM! Good Length delivery at 148 kmph shatters Warner’s stumps.
Wahab Conitnues.
AUS 42/1 (Over 5)
D Warner, 9 (5) | A Finch, 11 (9)
4.6: Sami to Warner. 1 Run
4.5: Sami to Warner, No Run
4.4: Sami to Warner, Four! Cuts it
4.3: Sami to Finch, 1 Run
4.2: Sami to Finch, No Run
4.1: Sami to Finch, FOUR! Cuts it pass point fielder.
Sami Continues
AUS 32/1 (Over 4)
D Warner, 4 (2) | A Finch, 6 (6)
3.6: Wahab to Warner, FOUR! Short and wide, the batsman cuts it into the gap on the off side.
3.5: Wahab to Warner, no run
David Warner is the new man in.
3.4: Wahab to Khawaja, OUT! Yorker, bowled him! He departs on 21 off 16.
3.3: Wahab to Khawaja, no run
3.2: Wahab to Khawaja, SIX! Short, deserved the treatment. Smacked into the stands.
3.1: Wahab to Finch, 1 run
Wahab Riaz into the attack.
AUS 21/0 U Khawaja, 15 (13) A Finch, 5 (5) M Amir, 2-0-10-0
2.6: Khawaja charges Amir but hits it straight to mid on
2.5: Finch plays this off the back foot and the ball races through the cover ring again, Umar Akmal almost messes that one on the boundary. Three runs
2.4: Finch attempts to flay this to the leg side but the ball takes the inside edge, no run
2.3: One run
2.2: Khawaja has a wild swing at that one but only meets with thin air. Amir troubling Khawaja
2.1: Finch plays that short pitched delivery to mid on for a run
AUS 16/0 U Khawaja, 14 (10) A Finch, 1 (2) M Sami, 1-0-11-0
1.6: FOUR! Outside off again and Khawaja throws the kitchen sink at that and the ball go through the legs of Malik in the covers
1.5: Finch pinches a single as the mid on fielder fumbles
1.4: One run. Khawaja works it away to the leg side.
1.3: Khawaja smashes that one straight to the fielder. Sami was off target again
1.2: WIDE. Horribly off target
1.2: Sami strays again but this time he’s lucky. Khawaja hit it straight to the short fine leg fielder
1.1: FOUR! Sami drops it short and its a gift on Khawaja’s pads who guides it to the fine leg boundary
AUS 5/0 A Finch, 0 (1) U Khawaja, 5 (5) M Amir, 1-0-5-0
0.6: Finch lets that one go safely to the keeper, Australia 5/0
0.5: Amir strays on the pads and easily worked away to fine leg for a single
0.4: FOUR! Leading edge and Khawaja was squared up but the ball flies through extra cover
0.3: Three in a row. Khawaja’s got no answer
0.2: Amir swings it away and Khawaja misses again
0.1: Mohammad Amir starts and he’s right on the money as Usman Khawaja is neither back nor front.
Teams from
Pakistan
Shahid Afridi (capt.), Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Khalid Latif, Imad Wasim, Sarfraz Ahmed (wk.), Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz
Australia
Steven Smith (capt.), Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch, David Warner, Shane Watson, Glen Maxwell, James Faulkner, Peter Nevill (wk.), Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood
Jarrod Kimber: Pakistan’s T20 cricket is in a desert
They’ve got batsmen who can’t manipulate the field, or clear it. A batting order dictated by a mad man who is the last believer in his own batting. Bowlers who get under or over bowled. And a non- existing fielding line up.
At the 2015 World Cup they were playing 90s-style ODI cricket, now they are playing 2000s ODI cricket, in T20s.
Pakistan has a reputation for being enigmatic, right now they are simple erroneous.
Read full article here.
‘Nobody will be happier than me if we can win this for Afridi’
Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik vowed his team will do all it takes to pull off a win against Australia and give skipper Shahid Afridi a winning send-off at the World T20.
Afridi, who no longer plays Test and one-day cricket, has hinted at an imminent retirement from the game after being criticised for his side’s disappointing show in the marquee tournament.
“This is going to be Afridi’s last World Cup. I respect him a lot, he is like an elder brother to me,” said Malik.
“Nobody will be happier than me if we can win this World Cup for Afridi.
“Every player is trying to give 100 percent. Winning or losing is not in our hands, but each one of us is taking responsibility and trying to give our best.” — AFP
A matter of stats
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Pakistan hold a slight edge in head-to-head confrontations with Australia, having won seven of 13 clashes (lost five, tied one).
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Shahid Afridi is one of just five players to bat in 20+ innings and have a strike rate over 150 in T20 history; Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch are two of the others.
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Shane Watson needs four more wickets to become the first Australian to 50 T20 wickets; he has taken four wickets in a match once before (against England in 2011).
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Shahid Afridi is just three shy of becoming the first player from any nation to reach 100 T20 scalps.
But as our reporter in Mohali notes, do not forget what Mark Twain once warned of: “There are lies, damn lies and statistics.”
