World T20: Smith, Faulkner lift Australia to victory over Pakistan

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 their opponents 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 Shahid 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.

Australia ended Pakistan hopes of qualifying to the semifinals as they registered a comfortable 21-run victory in a crucial tie in Mohali.

Needing 194 to win, Sharjeel Khan gave Pakistan a positive start with a quick 19-ball 30. There was a partnership between Khalid Latif (46) and Umar Akmal (32) but with the required run rate shooting up, Pakistan lost too many wickets.

Shoaib Malik fought hard to score an unbeaten 38 as Pakistan managed 172-8 in 20 overs.

Earlier, Steven Smith scored a fine unbeaten half century while Shane Watson hit an 44 off 21 deliveries as Australia posted 193 for four in 20 overs against Pakistan.

The skipper's 61 came off 43 balls included seven boundaries.

Usman Khawaja gave Australia a good start scoring a 16-ball 22 before Wahab Riaz claimed two quick wickets with Aaron Finch (15) being the other wicket.

Glenn Maxwell powered to a quick 30 from 18 deliveries before Watson gave the final touches to ensure Australia gave Pakistan a challenging target.

PAKISTAN INNINGS

That's the fifth wicket for Faulkner as Australia look to seal a big win. Pak 164-8 in 19.2 overs.

Wahab Riaz c Hazlewood b Faulkner 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) 

Faulkner continues to bowl the slower one as he earns another wicket. Pak 164-7 in 19.1 overs

Sarfraz Ahmed c Khawaja b Faulkner 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Faulkner is on a hat-trick as Imad departs. A top edge taken easily by Coulter-Nile. Pak 147-6 in 17.4 overs

Imad Wasim c Coulter-Nile b Faulkner 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)

Faulkner gets his second wicket as Pakistan are 147-5 in 17.3 overs

Khalid Latif b Faulkner 46 (41b 4x4 1x6)

Pakistan need 49 from 18 deliveries with Malik (21) and Latif (45) in the middle. Both have to look for the big ones. Pak 145-4 in 17 overs. 

Pakistan lose their skipper. Afridi steps forward for a big one but misses it to be stumped. Australia now clearly have the advantage. Pak 110-4 in 13.2 overs.

Shahid Afridi st Nevill b Zampa 14 (7b 0x4 2x6) 

Akmal goes for a wild sweep and completely misses it. Zampa keeps it in the air and gets his victim. Pak 85-3 in 10.3 overs

Umar Akmal b Zampa 32 (20b 3x4 1x6) 

Akmal needs to get some big shots going for Pakistan as he reaches 20 off 11 deliveries. Latif on 10. Pak 62-2 in 8 overs.

Australia take the big wicket as Sharjeel plays on. Bit loss for Pakistan as he was looking dangerous. Pak 40-2 in 5.3 overs.

Sharjeel Khan b Faulkner 30 (19b 6x4 0x6)

Sharjeel batting on 26 from just 16 deliveries as Pakistan reach 36-1 in 5 overs. They need 158 from 90 balls.

Poor shot from Shehzad. Goes for a big shot but gets a top edge for an easy catch from Coulter-Nile. He just need to give Sharjeel the strike who is going so strong at the moment. Pak 201- in 2.5 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad c Coulter-Nile b Hazlewood 1 (6b 0x4 0x6)

Sharjeel gives Pakistan a good start hammering three boundaries of Coulter-Nile's bowling. Pak 14-0 in 2 overs.

Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad open for Pakistan as Hazlewood bowls for Australia.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

A brilliant 74-run unbeaten partnership from Smith and Watson as Australia achieve 193 for four in 20 overs.

Two big shots from Watson as Australia reach 152 for four in 17 overs. Smith batting on 48 from 34 balls.

The dangerous Maxwell succumbs as he holes one in the deep. A great partnership of 62 runs with Smith comes to an end. Aus 119-4 in 13.4 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c Ahmed Shehzad b Imad Wasim 30 (18b 3x4 1x6) 

A boundary from Smith takes Australia to 100 from 12.1 overs. Smith batting on 29.

Australia are 90 for three in 11 overs. Smith going strong on 22, while Maxwell batting on 18.

Wasim comes in to bowl and he strikes in his second delivery. Finch is also bowled as the ball comes in sharp. Aus57-3 in 7.2 overs.

Aaron Finch b Imad Wasim 15 (16b 1x4 0x6)

Another stunning delivery from Riaz to send Warner packing. Riaz is on fire. Warner could not make contact to a fine swining delivery that disturbed the wood. Aus 42-2 in 4.1 overs.

David Warner b Wahab Riaz 9 (6b 2x4 0x6)

A beauty of a delivery from Wahab Riaz as his yorker rattles Khawaja's stumps. Pakistan needed that break badly. Aus 28-1 in 3.4 overs.

Usman Khawaja b Wahab Riaz 21 (16b 3x4 1x6)

Good start from Khawaja. He's already got three boundaries in his 14. Australia 16-0 in 2 overs.

Australia have won the toss and opted to first in the crunch Super 10 clash against Pakistan.

Australia: Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, P Nevill, Adam Zampa, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood

Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Sharjeel Khan, Khalid Latif, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami

Preview

Veteran batsman Shoaib Malik vowed Thursday that Pakistan would go all out for a surprise victory against Australia at cricket's World Twenty20 to give their "big brother" Shahid Afridi a winning send-off.

The big-hitting Afridi, who no longer plays Test and one-day cricket, has been hinting heavily that he will retire after the ongoing tournament after being heavily criticised for Pakistan's disappointing showing.

Pakistan have lost two of their three group matches and another defeat against Australia in Mohali on Friday will snuff out any lingering hopes of a second World T20 title.

"This is going to be Afridi's last World Cup. I respect him a lot, he is like an elder brother to me," Malik said at the pre-match press conference.

"Nobody will be happier than me if we can win this World Cup for Afridi.

"Every player is trying to give their 100 percent. Winning or losing is not in our hands, but each one of us is taking responsibility and trying to give our best," he said.

A veteran of 97 T20 internationals, Afridi has scored 1,391 runs while taking 97 wickets.

While his batting pyrotechnics once earned him the nickname "Boom Boom", Afridi has endured a torrid time at the crease in the last couple of years, prompting critics to question his match-winning abilities.

In the ongoing WT20, Afridi hit a match-winning 19-ball 49 and also took two key wickets in the opening group match against lowly Bangladesh.

But he made just eight and 19 in the defeats against India and New Zealand and drew widespread criticism for some of his team selections.

A dejected Afridi admitted after the game against the Black Caps that he would call time on his career soon.

"In every game, we're making mistakes and it's not good for us. Maybe the next game (against Australia) will be the last one of my career," the flamboyant all-rounder said.

"For now we have to forget this game and focus on Australia."

Malik, 34, also stressed Thursday the team was looking at plugging the loopholes against Australia, who have one win and a loss from two outings so far.

"Our first goal is to win tomorrow. We missed out on scoring singles in our last game. Nobody is perfect. We are trying to improve our skills."

A win is the least that Pakistan require to keep their slim chances of advancing in the tournament alive.

Malik also sought to dismiss talk of friction within the Pakistani dressing room, blaming the team's poor performance for the speculation.

"Nobody talked about rift in our camp in 2009 when we won the World T20. Six of us were not talking to each other, we still won.

"When you lose games, all the talk starts."

 

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