Colombo: Pakistan have boosted their chances of qualifying for the semifinals of the ICC T20 World Cup after they beat Australia by 32 in their final super eights match here today at the R Premadasa Stadium.
Meanwhile Australia became the first team from the group 2 to make it to the last four of the tournament.
Australia in pursuit of their 150 could just not get going in the match and were restricted to 117-7 in 20 overs.
Pakistan taking on Australia in the do-or-die match showed intent and their skipper Mohammad Hafeez unlike the last match attacked the opponents.
He used five spinners in the match and they shared 18 overs amongst them. They got off to a good start and dismissed the openers Shane Watson and David Warner for cheap.
Australia never looked comfortable against the spin and the runs dried up in the middle. The pressure kept climbing and Australia in order to keep up the pace lost wickets in a flurry.
By the 17th over, Australia knew that the match was nothing but over for them and they just looked to reach 112, the par score required for them qualify. They reached the score in first ball of the 19th over.
Michael Hussey was the chief contributor for Australia in the match and scored 54 off 47 deliveries including four boundaries and a six.
Saeed Ajmal was the wrecker in chief for Pakistan with 3-17 in four overs.
Earlier batting first, Pakistan got off to a shaky start but recovered well after a 79 runs partnership for third wicket between Nashir Jamshed and Kamran Akmal. Jamshed scored 55 off 46 deliveries laced with four boundaries and a six, whereas Akmal scored 32 with a four and a six.
Mitchell Starc was the wrecker-in-chief for Australia 3-20.
Brief scores:
Pakistan 149 for 6 (Jamshed 55, Starc 3-20) beat Australia 117 for 7 (Hussey 54*, Ajmal 3-17) by 32 runs
