Australia win by 21 runs in all-important clash, send Pakistan packing
Pakistan bowlers fail to hold Aussies back, batsmen fail to impress again
MOHALI: (Dunya News, Web Desk) - Pakistan was defeated by Australia in the all-important World Cup encounter by 21 runs and sent Pakistan packing home. Pakistan had to win this game in order to keep theri hopes in this tournament alive but were defeated by the Kangaroos and will now be going home as their campaign is already over.
Australia scored 193 runs batting first and set a mammoth target for Pakistani batsmen. Pakistani bowlers failed miserable at containing the Aussies who gathered runs freely, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground, and beyond. Sami was the worst of the bowlers, conceding 53 runs off his 4 overs. Amir, Wahab Riaz and Imad Wasim were also sent for many. The only bowler who somewhat controlled their flow of runs was the captain Shahid Afridi himself. He gave away 27 runs off his allotted 4 overs.
Steve Smith was brilliant with the bat. He scored 61 runs off 43 balls with 7 boundaries while Shane Watson was brilliant towards the end of the innings, scoring 44 runs off just 21 balls with the help of 4 boundaries and a six. Maxwell also scored 30 runs off 18 balls with 3 boundaries and a six.
Pakistan started off well with Sharjeel Khan scoring a brisk 30 off 19 balls but Ahmad Shahzad failed yet again, scoring just 1 run off the 6 balls that he faced before getting out. Khalid Latif scored 46 runs off 41 balls but never really looked like going. His run rate cost Pakistan dearly, in an innings where Pakistan needed more that 1.5 runs every ball, he scored his 46 at a strike rate of 112.19 only. On the other hand, Umar Akmal scored 32 off 20 balls and Shoaib Malik scored 40 off 20 but none of them were good enough to see the team through. Afridi scored 14 runs off 7 balls with the help of 2 sixes.
In the end, Pakistan just couldn t do enough and lost by 21 runs. Australia have just one game to go in this tournament now; against India. It is a must-win game for Australia while India might get through even if they lose by a close margin. As for Pakistan, their campaign is over; while their captain Shahid Afridi is most probably going to retire too.
In the post-match ceremony, Shahid Afridi said that he would decide about his retirement only after going back to Pakistan. He added that his captaincy wasn t good enough but he might continue serving Pakistan as a batsman.
