Australia vs Pakistan match report: Michael Clarke's team set up Cricket World Cup semi-final with India after six-wicket win

Pakistan 213 all out (49.5 overs), Australia 216-4 (33.5 overs)

Tom Sheen
Friday 20 March 2015 07:50 EDT
Comments
(Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Australia beat Pakistan by six wickets at the Adelaide Oval to set up a mouth-watering Cricket World Cup semi-final with India.

Australia bowled well, knocking over Pakistan for just 213 all out in 49.5 overs, with Josh Hazelwood picking up four wickets.

Michael Clarke's team needed just 33.5 overs to chase down that total, with Steve Smith scoring 65, Shane Watson 64 not out and Glenn Maxwell smashing 44 off just 29 balls.

Australia will face India next Thursday (26 March) in the semi-final.

Pakistan had a chance with Australia at 59 for three after Michael Clarke was dismissed.

But Smith and Watson put on 89 before some big-hitting from Maxwell saw Australia home with 97 balls to spare.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first, safely chipping their way through the opening overs until Sarfraz Ahmed (10) fell victim to a stunning diving catch at slip from Watson.

Mitchell Starc had provided the delivery but it was Hazlewood who snaffled the second wicket with a delivery that saw Ahmed Shehzad edge to Clarke and exit for five.

Haris Sohail and Misbah-ul-Haq steadied the ship with a flurry of boundaries, the latter carting two big sixes to move Pakistan on to 97 for two heading towards the halfway mark.

Misbah's bright innings came to an end as he holed out to Aaron Finch for 34 as Maxwell removed the batsman who had twice hit him into the crowd.

Sohail was then gone nine runs short of his half-century as Mitchell Johnson tempted him into a loose drive that edged behind.

The screw continued to turn and Umar Akmal (20) did not help himself with a weak attempt at a slog that Finch pouched to earn Maxwell his second wicket.

The short, square boundaries of the Adelaide Oval soon tricked Pakistan once again. Tempted by Hazlewood's delivery, Shahid Afridi attempted a pull to deep midwicket but instead found the lurking Finch to fall for a swiftly put-together 23.

Sohaib Maqsood (29) became Hazlewood's third victim as he hit a reckless shot straight to Johnson at cover while Wahab Riaz followed for 16 moments later when he lofted the ball behind for an easy Brad Haddin catch off Starc to leave Pakistan 188 for eight.

Hazlewood struck again in 44th over as Sohail Khan (four) sent the ball high into the air with wicketkeeper Haddin taking a beautiful catch and Ehsan Adil was last to fall for 15, caught by Starc off James Faulkner.

Pakistan would have been pleased to get danger-man Finch for just two early in Australia's reply, Sohail trapping him plumb and prompting a wasteful review.

David Warner was next to go for 24 off 23 balls as he wafted at a Wahab ball outside off and only succeeded in finding Rahat at third man.

And Wahab had another key wicket in his next over, bouncing out Clarke for eight as he looped it to Maqsood and Australia were 59 for three.

Wahab was bowling a ferocious spell and induced a top-edged hook from Watson that looked like a certain wicket but Rahat dropped an absolute dolly at fine-leg.

Smith then brought up his 50 off 51 balls with a four and Australia were cruising until Smith fell for 65, lbw to a ball from Ehsan that looked like it may have been heading down leg.

Maxwell was then dropped by Sohail but it was unlikely to make a difference as some big hitting eased Australia home.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in