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29 March 2024

Pakistan vs Australia World T20: Pak bounce back to win by 16 runs

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

A lionhearted effort by Pakistan's bowlers powered the 2009 champions to a 16-run win over Australia in a high-scoring World Twenty20 match in Mirpur on Sunday.

Chasing 192 to clinch the Group Two super 10 match, Australia were cruising at 126 for two in the 12th over before the Pakistan bowlers turned the match on its head.

Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi and Bilawal Bhatti claimed two wickets each as Australia were all out for 175.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell blasted six sixes in a sizzling 74 and featured in a century-plus stand with Aaron Finch (65) but their efforts proved in vain.

Australia lost quick wickets as David Warner and Shane Watson went in the first over before Maxwell came to the crease and set the stadium alight with some breathtaking power-hitting.

Finch played second fiddle and the duo's dominance was in full display in the 12th over of the innings, sent down by a hapless Bhatti, which yielded 30 runs.

But when Maxwell departed after 33 balls of swashbuckling entertainment it triggered a collapse Australia could not recover from.

Put into bat, Umar Akmal fell six runs short of his maiden Twenty20 International century after his 54-run blitz powered Pakistan to 191 for five.

Pakistan, who looked determined to shrug off Friday's defeat to arch-rivals India, were 25-2 in the fifth over when Umar walked in to join brother Kamran Akmal (31) and they shared a 96-run partnership in 8.3 overs.

The 23-year-old Umar received a let-off as Brad Hogg, who at the age of 43 became the oldest cricketer to play a Twenty20 International, dropped him in the deep when he was on 22.

But the right-hander looked unstoppable as he hit four sixes and nine fours before falling in the first ball off the final over.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Pakistan held their nerve to bounce back after a blitzkrieg by Glenn Maxwell to beat Australia by 16 runs in pulsating Group 2 match on Sunday.

Chasing a formidable target of 192, Maxwell's blistering 33-ball 74 which was studded with seven boundaries and six sixes kept Australia in the hunt.

Australia were in complete control during the blazing 118-run stand for the third wicket between Maxwell and Finch (65).

But the Pakistan bowlers lifted themselves up after the exit of Maxwell to throttle Australia with Ajmal and Gul in particularly bowling well in the death overs.

Ajmal took the key wicket of Finch in the 18th over to virtually shatter Australia's hopes.

Finch hit seven boundaries and two sixes in his 54-ball 65 but failed to take Australia over the line.

Australia lost their last five wickets for 13 runs within the space of 14 balls.

Gul claimed two for 29, Babar two for 26 and Afridi two for 30.

Bhatti who went for 30 in his first over finished with two for 36.

Australia are all out for 175 with Hogg being bowled in the final ball of the match. Aus 175 in 20 overs.

Brad Hogg b Bilawal Bhatti 3 (3b 0x4 0x6)

It's all over for Australia. Aus 173-9 n 19.4 overs.

Brad Haddin c Shoaib Malik b Bilawal Bhatti 8 (8b 0x4 0x6)

Australia lose their eighth wicket as Pakistan scent victory. Aus 172-8 in 19.2 overs.

Mitchell Starc run out 3 (2b 0x4 0x6)

Gul bowls an excellent over to finish with figures of 4-0-29-2 with Australia needing 23 off the final over to be bowled by Bhatti. Aus 169-7 in 19 overs.

Gul strikes shattering Coulter-Nile's stumps and Australia's hopes. Aus 163-7 in 18.2 overs.

Nathan Coulter-Nile b Umar Gul 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)

An excellent over by Ajmal who finishes with figures of 4-0-33-1 has given Pakistan the edge. Aus 162-6 in 18 overs.

Ajmal may have struck the decisive blow for Pakistan castling Finch. Aus 162-6 in 17.4 overs.

Aaron Finch b Saeed Ajmal 65 (54b 7x4 2x6)

Finch smashes a boundary as Australia need 31 off 18 balls. Aus 161-5 in 17 overs.

Ajmal takes a brilliant catch in the deep to remove Hodge who tries to slash Gul over cover. Aus 155-5 in 16.3 overs.

Brad Hodge c Saeed Ajmal b Umar Gul 2 (3b 0x4 0x6)

Finch sweeps Afridi for a boundary as the leg spinner completes his spell with figures of 4-0-30-2. Aus 153-4 in 16 overs.

Afridi is weaving his magic once again shattering the stumps of Australian skipper Bailey. Aus 146-4 in 15.1 overs.

George Bailey b Shahid Afridi 4 (9b 0x4 0x6)

Pakistan have pulled things back but Finch gets a streaky boundary off Ajmal. Aus 146-3 in 15 overs.

Finch manages to hoick Afridi over third man for a boundary as Australia need 54 off 36 balls. Aus 138-3 in 14 overs.

Finch sweeps a full toss from Babar for a boundary but there is lull after the exit of Maxwell. Aus 132-2 in 13 overs.

Australia need 66 from 48 balls with Maxwell having closed the gap during the blazing 118-run stand with Finch in 10.4 overs.

Maxwell's extraordinary knock comes to an end as Shehzad holds onto a skier off Afridi. Aus 126-3 in 11.4 overs.

Glenn Maxwell c Ahmed Shehzad b Shahid Afridi 74 (33b 7x4 6x6)

Pakistan's woes continue as Maxwell (70) is dropped by Ajmal off Gul. Aus 122-2 in 11 overs.

Australia need 75 off the last 10 overs with Maxwell and Finch on song.

Maxwell blasts Ajmal for another maximum to bring up the 100-run partnership with Finch in just 51 balls. Aus 117-2 in 10 overs.

Babar keeps Maxwell quiet conceding just three runs as relative calm returns after the carnage. Aus 105-2 in 9 overs.

Bhatti goes for 30 in his first over as Pakistan seem to be running out of bowling options. Aus 102-2 in 8 overs.

Maxwell smashes a boundary and two sixes off consecutive balls to reach his half century in just 18 balls - the fourth fastest overall in T20 cricket.

Afridi goes for 15 in his first over as Finch and Maxwell send the ball soaring into the stands over midwicket. Aus 72-2 in 7 overs.

The 50-run partnership between Finch and Maxwell comes in 31 balls.

Ajmal goes for 13 as Finch slog sweeps him over midwicket for a six and then gives himself to smash him through the covers. Aus 57-2 in 6 overs.

Finch struggles to put away Gul but Maxwell blasts consecutive boundaries with some wonderful strokeplay on the off. Aus 44-2 in 5 overs.

Pakistan introduce pace for the first time as Gul comes into the attack in the fifth over.

Hafeez goes for 15 as Maxwell blasts another six. Aus 35-2 in 4 overs.

Maxwell hits the first maximum sending Hafeez sailing over midwicket.

Maxwell gets going cracking consecutive boundaries off Babar sweeping to midwicket and lofting over extra cover. Aus 20-2 in 3 overs.

Australia are looking to play aggressively despite the loss of two wickets having sent Maxwell up the order. Aus 11-2 in 2 overs.

Babar has struck two massive blows in the opening over of the Australia innings with Watson being caught behind after hitting a boundary. Pak 8-2 in 1 over.

Shane Watson c Kamran Akmal b Zulfiqar Babar 4 (4b 1x4 0x6)

Warner edges the first ball of the innings from Babar for a boundary as Australia begin the run chase but the left-arm spinner strikes next ball knocking back the off stump. Aus 4-1 in 0.2 overs.

David Warner b Zulfiqar Babar 4 (2b 1x4 0x6)

PAKISTAN INNINGS

A power-packed half century from Umar Akmal (94) helped Pakistan recover from a poor start to post a formidable 191-5 in 20 overs after being put into bat by Australia.

Umar put the Australia bowlers to the sword after Pakistan had slumped to 25-2 in the fifth over during his career-best T20 innings.

He shared in a blazing 96-run stand for the third wicket with Kamran (31) in 8.3 overs to put the Pakistan on course for a big total.

Umar smashed four boundaries and nine boundaries during his 54-ball knock before falling six short of what would have been a well deserved century.

Afridi maintained the momentum with a 11-ball cameo of 20 not out with two boundaries and a six.

Coulter-Nile claimed two for 36 while Hogg went for 29 in three overs.

Afridi and Malik get a boundary apiece in the final over from Starc to finish on 191-5 in 20 overs.

Akmal perishes six short of a century failing to clear Maxwell at long-on. Pak 180-5 in 19.1 overs.

Umar Akmal c Maxwell b Starc 94 (54b 9x4 4x6)

Bollinger concedes just five runs in the penultimate over as Akmal eyes a century. Pak 180-4 in 19 overs.

Akmal is playing the innings of his life cracking Starc inside out on the off for a boundary and ending the over despatching a full toss for a glorious six. Pak 175-4 in 18 overs.

Watson goes for 14 as Afridi smashes a six and chips one over midoff for a boundary. Pak 162-4 in 17 overs.

Afridi gets cracking clubbing Watson to the long on fence for a massive six.

It may be a blessing in disguise since it has brought Afridi to the middle.

Maqsood's misery in the middle comes to an end. Pak 147-4 in 15.5 overs.

Sohaib Maqsood b Coulter-Nile 5 (7b 0x4 0x6)

Umar uses the pace of Bollinger to glance to fine leg for another boundary to surpass his previous highest T20 score of 64. Pak 139-3 in 15 overs.

Hogg bowls a good comeback over to new batsman Maqsood. Pak 131-3 in 14 overs.

The third wicket partnership between the Akmal brothers yielded 96 runs in 8.3 overs to salvage the Pakistan innings. Pak 123-3 in 13 overs.

Warner takes a superb catch on the boundary as Kamran slices Coulter-Nile over point. Pak 121-3 in 12.5 overs.

Kamran Akmal c Warner b Coulter-Nile 31 (31b 4x4 0x6)

Coulter-Nile is back into the attack but there is no stopping Umar who is in sublime form cracking one through the covers for his seventh boundary.

Part-time spinner Finch goes for 18 as Umar blasts a couple of sixes and a boundary to bring up his half century in 28 balls. Pak 114-2 in 12 overs.

Hogg goes for 26 in two overs as Pakistan wrest back the initiative. Pak 96-2 in 11 overs.

Umar lofts Hogg over extra cover for a boundary as Pakistan score 50 in the last 20 deliveries.

Umar smashes a free hit from Watson over midwicket for the first six of the match to bring up the 50-run stand with Kamran in just 33 balls. Pak 83-2 in 10 overs.

Kamran gets into the act getting consecutive boundaries off Hogg sweeping to square leg and beating Warner with a blistering cover drive. Pak 69-3 in 9 overs.

Hogg gives Umar (22) a life failing to latch onto a catch on the boundary. Pak 56-2 in 8 overs.

Umar shows he is in good nick picking up a couple off boundaries off Coulter-Nile through midwicket and straight down the ground.

Umar dashes down the track and slams Watson through the covers for a boundary. Pak 42-2 in 7 overs.

Umar Akmal gets cracking slamming Coulter-Nile with a flat batted shot past the umpire as Pakistan reach 36-2 at the end of the Powerplay overs.

Watson strikes with his second delivery with the Pakistan captain Hafeez almost committing hara-kiri by dragging the ball onto his stumps. Pak 25-2 in 4.2 overs.

Mohammad Hafeez b Watson 13 (10b 2x4 0x6)

Hafeez whacks consecutive boundaries through midwicket off Bollinger. Pak 25-1 in 4 overs.

Kamran breaks the shackles with a beautifully timed drive to pierce the cordon on the off for his first boundary. Pak 14-1 in 3 overs.

Bollinger draws first blood as Shehzad attempts to pull only to see the ball looping for the bowler to gratefully accept it. Pak 7-1 in 1.4 overs.

Ahmed Shehzad c and b Bollinger 5 (5b 1x4 0x6)

Kamran survives a confident appeal for caught behind first ball dabbing a fullish delivery with replays showing ball missing bat. Pak 6-0 in 1 over.

Pakistan and Shehzad are of the mark first ball with a stylish square drive to the point boundary off Starc.

Australia and Pakistan have faced each other 11 times previously in T20Is.

Pakistan hold a winning record, having won six, there has also been one tie.

Australia have won the toss and opted to bowl against Pakistan in the first of the Group 2 double header at at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur also featuring India and West Indies later in the evening.

Pakistan have made one change from the side which lost to India, with Zulfiqar Babar coming in place of Junaid Khan.

PLAYING XI

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey, Brad Hodge, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Brad Hogg, Doug Bollinger

Pakistan: Ahmed Shehzad, Kamran Akmal†, Mohammad Hafeez*, Umar Akmal, Shoaib Malik, Sohaib Maqsood, Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti, Umar Gul, Zulfiqar Babar, Saeed Ajmal

PREVIEW

Injury-plagued Australia begin their quest for the only major title missing from their overflowing cupboard when they clash with shaky Pakistan in the World Twenty20 in Dhaka on Sunday.

Pakistan's seven-wicket drubbing at India's hands on Friday night should give Australia added confidence for the group two Super-10 game at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium.

But skipper George Bailey refused to take victory for granted, insisting instead that it was spin-heavy Pakistan that held the advantage.

"I don't think we have any advantage," Bailey said. "If anything, they have probably got the advantage in terms of having played here and got used to the conditions.

"We have not played at this ground yet. It is going to be fresh for us. We have to adjust pretty quickly."

Australia, already missing premier fast bowler Mitchell Johnson due to a toe infection, will also be without all-rounder James Faulkner for the opening match.

Bailey said Faulkner, a hard-hitting right-hand batsman and left-arm seamer, had still not recovered from the knee injury that forced him to miss the recent tour of South Africa.

"We will just monitor him," the captain said. "He is an important player. He has certainly played a huge role for Australian sides in the T20 and one-day formats."

Australia, who have won the 50-over World Cup four times and are a leading Test side, have made the final of the World Twenty20 just once in four attempts, losing the title to England in 2010.

Bailey said the current squad was different from previous ones, but needed to be consistent to win a maiden T20 title.

"We have got more versatility just in terms of what we can do with the ball," he said. "And we are probably a little bit more powerful with the bat, and bat a little deeper.

"You just have to to play some good, consistent cricket to get to the semi-finals. And then you hope that you have carried some momentum there.

"Consistency is probably the key. There's are a whole different range of ways that a game can be won and lost in T20s and it can happen quickly - it can be one catch, might be one over, might be one wicket that's taken.

"But the better team is probably going to win their game. Every team that plays at their worst is going to lose. The challenge is to make sure that the gap is not too big."

Bailey conceded it would be a challenge to tackle Pakistan's spinners, led by the prolific Saeed Ajmal, but was hopeful his batsmen will stand up to the task.

"They are a very, very strong spinning side, but I think we have got a strong batting line-up that hopefully can overcome them," the Australian captain said.

"Spin plays a huge role in T20, wherever it is played in the world. But in these conditions, it tends to be match-winning. We know we are going to face lots of spin."

Bailey said it was important to start with a win in the group which also includes defending champions the West Indies, India and hosts Bangladesh.

"In a tournament like this, momentum is really important," he said. "Starting with a win gets you off and running and I don't think you can afford to drop many games. The more wins the better."

Two teams from the group will advance to the semi-finals.