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28 March 2024

Australia thrash Pakistan to book India semifinal

Published
By Cricket Correspondent & Agencies

Australia completed an emphatic six-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval on Friday to book a blockbuster World Cup semi-final against reigning champions India.

With Pakistan's batsmen bowled out for 213 at Adelaide Oval, their bowlers had little to defend and were let down by two dropped catches that reprieved batsmen Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell.

The pair would go on to build an unbeaten 68-run partnership to steer Australia to victory, as the co-hosts reeled in the final runs with over 16 overs to spare. Watson was unbeaten on 64 and Maxwell 44 not out.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi bow out of one-day internationals in disappointment, after failing to convert starts in their team's innings.

Australia's selectors recalled paceman Josh Hazlewood in place of Pat Cummins and he took four wickets to repay their faith as he and his fellow pacemen enjoyed a dominant afternoon.

 

Pakistan innings

Pakistan were dismissed for just 213 after winning the toss in their World Cup quarter-final against Australia in Adelaide on Friday.

It was a nervous batting display by Pakistan in the face of some hostile bowling and accurate fielding by Australia, who wrapped up the innings with one ball of the scheduled 50 overs left on a lively Adelaide Oval pitch.

Haris Sohail top-scored with 41 while skipper Misbah-ul-Haq made 34.

Recalled fast bowler Josh Hazlewood led the attack with with four for 35, while Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc took two wickets apiece.

The winner of this match will meet India in the second semi-final at Sydney on March 26.

Preview

Australia enter their World Cup quarter-final as runaway favourites against Pakistan in Adelaide on Friday, but will be wary of an enigmatic team that have proved a major thorn in their side at past tournaments.

Australia boast 11 wins from their past 13 one-day internationals against Pakistan, but it was the 2011 World Cup loss in Colombo that will be remembered grimly by a number of players in Michael Clarke's side.

As triple defending champions, a Ricky Ponting-led Australia came into the 2011 pool match riding a 34-match winning streak at World Cups dating back to 1999.

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Pakistan skittled their batsmen for 176, their lowest World Cup total since 1992, and held on to record a four-wicket victory that put Australia into a tough quarter-final which they ultimately lost to eventual champions India.

It was also Pakistan who were the last team to beat Australia before their winning streak which included the teams playing off in the 1999 World Cup final and Australia go on to defend the trophy twice.

Fast forward to the current tournament, the co-hosts will be wary of Pakistan's return to form after their abject start to the tournament.

It was a horror start in 1992 that saw Imran Khan's "cornered tigers" ultimately fight back to win their maiden and only World Cup on Australian soil.

Though pundits have been tempted to link the campaigns, Misbah-ul-Haq's team is poles apart from Khan's side in batting and bowling stocks and has been further depleted by the loss of towering paceman Mohammad Irfan to a broken pelvis.

Pakistan are likely to lean on Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali and Ehsan Adil for their pace attack, although the makeup could change if selectors decide to go with legspinner Yasir Shah, as coach Waqar Younis hinted.

The 28-year-old Shah has not played since the opening pool loss to India but has proved a handful for Australian batsmen, capturing 12 wickets in last year's 2-0 test series win in United Arab Emirates.

Though the side may not be decided, Misbah had no argument that his team were the underdogs.

"They are favourites," Misbah told reporters of his opponents on Thursday.

"But there is no hard and fast rules that favourites are always going to win the game.

"It's on the day ... we are hopeful and we are very positive and I think we have got a bowling line-up that can really go through any team."

Australia can rightfully make the same boast of their pace attack, led by left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc who leads the tournament with 16 wickets at a devastating average of 8.50.

Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are vying to be the third paceman to join Starc and Mitchell Johnson on an Adelaide Oval wicket which had a green tinge on Thursday.

The prize for the winner is a semi-final in Sydney against the victor in Thursday's quarter-final between India and Bangladesh.

Captain Clarke was cagey about the lineup of his team, saying they would wait until having another look at the wicket on match-day before making a call.

"Fast bowing will play a big part tomorrow, especially if they leave that grass on the wicket like there is now -- fingers crossed," he told reporters.

"But I think both teams have good fast bowlers in their line-ups so the batters are going to have to make sure we play really well."