| 0.0 : Hello and welcome to game number 17 of the World Cup! Pakistan take on Australia in Taunton and this promises to be a lip-smacking encounter in cold, overcast conditions. The last time these two played in a World Cup game in England, it was the final and Pakistan were tamed as Australia lifted the cup in 1999. In this World Cup, the two sides have started differently. While the Aussies won their first two and lost their last one against India, Pakistan have seen all 3 results possible. This game |
| PITCH REPORT - Ramiz Raja is one of the pitch analysts for today. He mentions that it is extremely cold and overcast out there in Taunton but thankfully there is no rain yet. Michael Clarke, the analyst at the other end says that the surface is really good with a decent covering of grass but feels underneath it is really dry. He feels that there are plenty of runs on the wicket and even though there will be help for the bowlers, a batsman once settled in can make good use of the small dimensions |
| TOSS - Pakistan win the toss and ELECT TO FIELD FIRST!!! |
| Pakistan captain, Sarfaraz Ahmed says that they want to bowl first. Adds that there is a bit of grass on this green pitch and feels there will be some moisture too. Hopes that they take the advantage. Says that they have practiced hard and are looking forward to this match. Informs that they have made one change - Shadab Khan makes way for Shaheen Afridi. Informs that they will be wearing black arm bands today as one of their Test umpires has passed away. |
| Australia skipper, Aaron Finch says that they would have bowled first as well, moisture on wicket as it was under cover. Aaron feels that the past does not count for much and especially in a tournament like this, where one plays different sides in different conditions, and it is always important to be at one's best. The Aussie skipper mentions the need to read the wicket quickly and also expects the ball to swing early on. He signs off by informing that Marcus Stoinis who has an injury has been |
| Pakistan XI - Imam-ul-Haq, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Mohammad Hafeez, Sarfaraz Ahmed (WK/C), Shoaib Malik, Asif Ali, Wahab Riaz, Hasan Ali, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Amir. |
| Australia XI - David Warner, Aaron Finch (C), Shaun Marsh, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (WK), Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson. |
| Time for the national anthems of both the sides. The players have lined up in the middle to passionately sing it. Good crowd has come as well. Credit to them for showing so much support in spite of the weather conditions not too promising. |
| Right then, it's time to play the game, FINALLY! David Warner and Aaron Finch are the Aussie openers. It will be challenging up front for them as the conditions will assist the pacers. Mohammad Amir is loosening up and he will be taking the first new ball. Two slips in place. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : M Amir to A Finch, BEATEN FIRST UP! Lovely delivery. Amir pitches it up and outside off, takes it away with the angle, Finch is caught pushing inside the line tamely and gets beaten comprehensively. |
| 0.2 : M Amir to A Finch, Left alone this time. Much better from the Aussie skipper. He needs to respect the conditions and should be ready to play a few dots here. |
| 0.3 : M Amir to A Finch, That's the line and length! Excellent seam position. Amir lands it on a length around middle and gets it to shape back into the right-hander, Aaron does well to defend it back with a straight bat. |
| 0.4 : M Amir to A Finch, Identical to the last delivery. Finch gets behind the line and pushes it down towards mid on. |
| 0.5 : M Amir to A Finch, Play and a miss! Not sure it's deliberate from the bowler or not. After bowling two inswingers, he throws one up full and wide outside off to tempt the batsman. Finch has his feet glued inside the crease but still goes chasing after it. Fails to put bat on ball. Loose, very loose from Finch. |
| 0.6 : M Amir to A Finch, Solidly gets behind the line and blocks it safely to end a maiden first over by Amir. |
| Shaheen Afridi to bowl with the second new ball. |
| 1.1 : S Afridi to D Warner, Shaheen begins with a back of a length ball on off, Warner goes on the back foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 1.2 : S Afridi to D Warner, FOUR! Nicely played! Shaheen persists with the shortish delivery but his line changes to middle and leg. Warner easily gets on top of the bounce and pulls it behind square leg for a boundary. David is off the mark and so are Australia! |
| 1.3 : S Afridi to D Warner, Goes on his back foot and taps it down towards covers for a quick single. |
| 1.4 : S Afridi to A Finch, Wide! Shaheen is struggling here. He has to adjust to right-left batting combination also. Slips a shortish ball down the leg side, Finch tries tickling it fine but misses. |
| S Afridi to A Finch, That's more like it. This is where Shaheen needs to be more often. An away-swinger. Landing on a good length around off and shaping away. Finch is inside the crease as he pushes inside the line and misses. |
| 1.5 : S Afridi to A Finch, Some extra bounce from a good length outside off. Finch goes on his toes and plays it down from the bottom half of his bat. It rolls back to the bowler. |
| 1.6 : S Afridi to A Finch, Fuller in length and on middle, Finch works it to the right of mid on and jogs across to the other end. 7 from the over, a poor one from Shaheen. |
| 2.1 : M Amir to A Finch, Short of a length delivery in the channel outside off, Finch covers his stumps and shoulders arms. Not the ideal length to bowl at this stage with some help on offer from the surface. |
| 2.2 : M Amir to A Finch, Misfield! Amir bowls a length ball wide outside off, Finch reaches out for it and drives it through the line. Malik at extra cover dives across to his left but only manages to make a partial stop. It runs behind and they take a couple of runs. |
| 2.3 : M Amir to A Finch, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 2.4 : M Amir to A Finch, That's the line. That's the length. Amir bowls it with a scrambled seam around off. His angle takes it away from the right-hander who has no idea how to play at it. Sits back on the back foot, tries to flirt inside the line and is lucky not to have edged it. |
| 2.5 : M Amir to A Finch, Too straight in line this time. The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads towards backward square leg. One run added to the total. |
| 2.6 : M Amir to D Warner, Beauty of a delivery. A superb outswinger outside off. Warner gets forward to play at it but the ball curls away to beat the outside edge. Another top over by Amir. |
| 3.1 : S Afridi to A Finch, SIX! Boom! Finch won't hold back. Also, this is not the length to bowl at the moment, at least. Shortish and on middle, Aaron eases himself on the back foot and pulls it thunderously in front of square leg for his 100th six in ODIs. |
| 3.2 : S Afridi to A Finch, Goes on the back foot this time and punches it towards extra cover for a couple of runs. |
| 3.3 : S Afridi to A Finch, Poor bowling, this. Shaheen is on the pads this time, Finch easily helps it towards long leg and picks up a couple of runs. 10 from the over, so far. |
| 3.4 : S Afridi to A Finch, A bit edgy this time. Shaheen lands it on a good length just outside off, Finch pushes inside the line without any feet and edges it wide of the slip cordon to third man. A single this time. |
| 3.5 : S Afridi to D Warner, FOUR! Shaheen is struggling big time. Serves a half-tracker, Warner picks it from outside off and pulls it powerfully over mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 3.6 : S Afridi to D Warner, Lovely timing this time. Full and outside off, Warner strokes it off his front foot and pierces the gap at covers for a brace. 17 from the over, too expensive. |
| 4.1 : M Amir to A Finch, Angling away from the batsman, on a good length, Finch covers his stumps and allows it through to the keeper. |
| 4.2 : M Amir to A Finch, A tempter by Amir. He bowls it on a driving length outside off but Aaron decides to make another leave. This is a really good contest. |
| 4.3 : M Amir to A Finch, Amir lets out a grunt and digs in a shortish ball just outside off, Finch goes on his toes and blocks it to the off side. |
| 4.4 : M Amir to A Finch, Beautifully bowled. A few outswingers followed by an inswinger. It's in the line of the stumps and Finch gets an inside edge onto the pads as he tries to defend. |
| 4.5 : M Amir to A Finch, The ball is too wide on the off side for the batsman to make any contact. |
| 4.6 : M Amir to A Finch, Nearly edges it behind! Shortish and outside off, moving away from the batsman, Finch pokes at it nervously and almost nicks it behind. Sarfaraz dives across to his right but doesn't collect it cleanly. Maiden from Amir, his second in the match so far. But the real problem for Pakistan is that the other end is leaking runs. |
| First bowling change of the morning! Hassan Ali comes into the attack now, replacing the expensive Shaheen Afridi. |
| 5.1 : H Ali to D Warner, Sharp and shortish around leg, Warner tries to flick but misses to get hit on the thigh pad. |
| 5.2 : H Ali to D Warner, Another delivery angling down the leg side, Warner misses out on the flick shot and takes a hit on the thigh pad. |
| 5.3 : H Ali to D Warner, Gently turns a full length ball on the leg side but finds the mid-wicket fielder. |
| 5.4 : H Ali to D Warner, Beaten all ends up! Warner is smiling. He knows that was close. Shortish and on middle, an outswinger. Warner sticks back to play at it but it nips away to beat the outside edge. |
| 5.5 : H Ali to D Warner, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads to square leg. One run added to the total. |
| 5.6 : H Ali to A Finch, Pitches it up and around off, Finch plays a well-timed straight drive and Hassan does well to stop the ball in his followthrough. Just 1 from the over, finally a quiet one from this end. |
| 6.1 : M Amir to D Warner, Wide! Good length ball drifting down the leg side, Warner tries flicking but misses. |
| M Amir to D Warner, FOUR! Poor delivery and punished! A length ball once again drifting down the leg side, Warner flicks it with nice timing past the square leg fielder inside the ring. No stopping it after that. |
| 6.2 : M Amir to D Warner, Fullish and on middle, Warner gets down a straight bat to play but it takes the inner half and rolls to the left of the square leg fielder. One run added to the total. |
| 6.3 : M Amir to A Finch, Shortish and on middle, Finch jumps on the back foot and taps it down on the leg side. |
| 6.4 : M Amir to A Finch, Angling across the right-hander outside off, Finch slices his drive down towards third man for one. |
| 6.5 : M Amir to D Warner, Movement back into the batsman from a length around off, once again Warner tries playing it straight but it takes the inner portion of his bat and runs down to long leg for one. |
| 6.6 : M Amir to A Finch, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. No run to end an 8-run over from Amir. |
| 7.1 : H Ali to D Warner, Wide! Pakistan have been a bit untidy with their lines and lengths. Hassan slips a good length ball down the leg side, Warner tries to glance but it moves away to beat his bat. Sarfaraz once again struggles while collecting but no run conceded. |
| H Ali to D Warner, Shortish but the line is straight, David works it behind square leg for one. |
| 7.2 : H Ali to A Finch, Could have easily dragged it on! Good length delivery on off, Finch winds up for a big punch through the line but it takes the inside edge and hits him on the thigh pad. |
| 7.3 : H Ali to A Finch, FOUR! Bang! Width on offer outside off, Finch rises on his back foot and spanks it through point for a cracking boundary. Pakistan quickly losing their advantage of winning this crucial toss owing to some poor new-ball bowling. |
| 7.4 : H Ali to A Finch, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 7.5 : H Ali to D Warner, FOUR! Too wide and outside off, Warner gets on top of the bounce and crunches his drive through covers for the second boundary in this over. |
| 7.6 : H Ali to D Warner, Outside off, left alone. 11 coming from this over. |
| Second change today! Wahab Riaz to bowl now... will he provide the breakthrough? |
| 8.1 : W Riaz to A Finch, Shortish to begin with. The line is straight and Finch works it in the gap on the leg side for one. |
| 8.2 : W Riaz to D Warner, Presses forward to a full ball and pushes it to the right of mid off for a single. |
| 8.3 : W Riaz to A Finch, A bit short and on off, Finch goes on his back foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 8.4 : W Riaz to A Finch, Hesitation but no harm done! Finch pushes a length ball towards covers and Warner comes out of his crease in search of a run. He is sent back immediately and the fielder instead of hitting the stumps, hits David on his body. Given the chilly conditions, that would have stung. |
| 8.5 : W Riaz to A Finch, Defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 8.6 : W Riaz to A Finch, Superbly delivered outswinger. Around off and shaping away, Finch pushes at it without any footwork and gets beaten. |
| 9.1 : H Ali to D Warner, Fullish and on middle, Warner strokes it back and Hassan sticks his right hand out. He deflects it past mid off who gives the chase. Shaheen also runs behind it from mid on and gets to the ball first. The batsmen take a couple of runs. 50 up for Australia! |
| 9.2 : H Ali to D Warner, Four leg byes! Ali slips a shortish ball down the leg side, Warner fails to glance but still it's a good result for Australia. The ball kisses Warner's thigh pad and speeds down to the fine leg fence. |
| 9.3 : H Ali to D Warner, Once again the length and line aren't good. Shortish and on leg, Warner works it towards square leg for one. |
| 9.4 : H Ali to A Finch, Strides forward to a full ball and pushes it towards cover-point. |
| 9.5 : H Ali to A Finch, Some extra bounce from a good length around off, Finch does well to get on top of the delivery and block it out. |
| 9.6 : H Ali to A Finch, Lands it on a length outside off, Finch tries to run it down to third man but Babar intervenes with a dive from point to make the stop. 10 from the over, 56/0 in Powerplay 1, Australia have done extremely well. |
| Powerplay 2 begins! A maximum of four fielders can be put outside the circle now. |
| 10.1 : W Riaz to D Warner, Aerial... SAFE! Riaz serves it a bit short on off and the ball shoots up after kissing the deck. Warner gets into an awkward position as he tries to fend it away. The ball takes the leading edge and balloons in the air. But it falls safely at cover-point. |
| 10.2 : W Riaz to D Warner, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 10.3 : W Riaz to D Warner, Warner has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 10.4 : W Riaz to D Warner, Shortish and outside off, Warner slaps it from the toe end of his bat to sweeper cover for a run. |
| 10.5 : W Riaz to A Finch, A little short and on middle, Finch goes back and keeps it out in front of mid on. They scamper across for a single. |
| 10.6 : W Riaz to D Warner, Sliding down the leg side, Warner picks it off his pads and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| Shaheen Afridi returns! |
| 11.1 : S Afridi to A Finch, Starts his new spell with a shortish ball on off, angling away from the batsman, Finch shoulders arms. |
| 11.2 : S Afridi to A Finch, Fuller and on middle, Finch stands back in an open stance and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 11.3 : S Afridi to A Finch, Back of a length around leg, Finch goes back and across to work it on the leg side but misses. It goes off his thigh pad to square leg and they cross. The bowler was appealing but it was too high and also pitched outside leg, probably. |
| 11.4 : S Afridi to D Warner, A confident front foot drive by Warner and he sends it through covers. Imam makes a tumbling stop in the deep and the batsmen take a couple of runs. |
| 11.5 : S Afridi to D Warner, Shortish and on off, Warner stays on the back foot and plays it down to covers. |
| 11.6 : S Afridi to D Warner, Warner shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. Not too accurate but still a better one from Shaheen's previous overs, 5 from it. |
| 12.1 : W Riaz to A Finch, Good length ball on middle, Finch rises on his back foot and plays it towards square leg for a run. |
| 12.2 : W Riaz to D Warner, Warner reaches out for a length ball and cracks his drive through the line. But finds the in-ring fielder at covers. |
| 12.3 : W Riaz to D Warner, Warner opens the face of the bat and helps it to third man. The batsmen have run through for a single. |
| 12.4 : W Riaz to A Finch, DROPPED! By Asif Ali. That's a huge miss. Gone for FOUR as well! Back of a length delivery outside off, Aaron tries to punch it through covers but gets a thick outside edge behind to first slip. Asif tries catching it with his fingers pointing up but fails to pouch it. It bursts through his hands and races behind to the fence. |
| 12.5 : W Riaz to A Finch, FOUR! A catch going down followed by a boundary. We see that happen quite often. A delivery drifting down the leg side, Finch moves across and neatly deflects it to fine leg for a boundary. |
| 12.6 : W Riaz to A Finch, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. 11 runs and a dropped catch from the over. |
| 13.1 : S Afridi to A Finch, Fuller and on the pads this time, flicked away to deep square leg by Finch for a run. |
| 13.2 : S Afridi to D Warner, Bouncer outside off, Warner looks to upper cut the ball but it was too high for him and hence, he misses. |
| 13.3 : S Afridi to D Warner, On a length outside off, cut away to third man for a run by Warner. |
| 13.4 : S Afridi to A Finch, Back of a length on off, patted by Aaron towards mid-wicket after getting on top of the bounce. A run is taken. |
| 13.5 : S Afridi to D Warner, FOUR! Lovely shot from Warner but the ball is a poor one again. Short and on the body, easily pulled away through backward square leg. The boundary rope is found again with ease. Warner going along on his merry way! |
| 13.6 : S Afridi to D Warner, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 14.1 : W Riaz to A Finch, Shortish ball on middle, Finch gets back and gently works it through mid-wicket. Good calling between the batsmen and two runs are taken. |
| 0.0 : Shout for an lbw! The umpire remains still. Wahab convinces his skipper and Sarfaraz goes for the review. |
| 14.2 : W Riaz to A Finch, NOT OUT! Umpire's call. Back of a length delivery around leg, Finch sticks back inside the crease to work it on the leg side but misses. They appeal for an lbw but the umpire remains still. Wahab has a chat with his skipper and Sarfaraz gets convinced to take the DRS. The replays roll in and they find the ball to be pitching on leg and it's clipping the top of the stumps. Pakistan retain the review. |
| 14.3 : W Riaz to A Finch, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 14.4 : W Riaz to A Finch, Ouch! That could have hurt. A short ball on leg, Finch looks to fend it away awkwardly but the ball bounces too much and catches him on his arm. That would have stung surely. The ball reared off a back of a length and bounced more than normal, the second time it has happened today. That could put some doubt in the batsman's mind. |
| 14.5 : W Riaz to A Finch, Drama! Plenty of it. Chance of a run out at both ends. Pakistan manage none. Fullish ball outside off, Finch drives straight to point and comes out of the crease for a non-existent single. He is sent back and Aaron dives as Babar misses the stumps at the striker's end. Now, they cross for a run but the time consumed by Finch to recover from his dive and then charge to the other end means that a direct hit at the bowler's end will get him short. But it doesn't happen and |
| 14.6 : W Riaz to D Warner, Wide! A low full toss down the leg side, Warner shuffles across, tries to flick but misses. |
| W Riaz to D Warner, The batsman defends it from within the crease. End of an eventful over. |
| 15.1 : S Afridi to A Finch, On a length outside off, left alone by the batsman this time. |
| 15.2 : S Afridi to A Finch, Good ball! Cuts the batsman in half! On a length on off, after the ball that bounced high last over, Finch was on his toes to play this ball but it stays low and he cannot put bat on ball as it skids through to the keeper. |
| 15.3 : S Afridi to A Finch, Loud appeal! The umpire stays mum though. A length ball on middle and sliding down off, Finch looks to come ahead and defend but gets hit high on the knee roll. The bowler appeals but there is no support from the others. Sarfaraz does not even think about reviewing. |
| 15.4 : S Afridi to A Finch, Yorker length almost. Jammed back out towards the bowler by Finch. |
| 15.5 : S Afridi to A Finch, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat towards cover. |
| 15.6 : S Afridi to A Finch, FOUR! That will give Finch all the confidence that he would have lost in the last over and this one. A full ball on middle, driven back hard past mid on where Malik misses the ball as he dived to stop it. The ball reaches the rope easily. |
| Mohammad Hafeez is into the attack now. |
| 16.1 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Full and sliding down the leg side, Warner fails to flick and it goes off his pads to square leg. A leg bye taken. |
| 16.2 : M Hafeez to A Finch, Dropped by Sarfaraz! A flatter and shorter on off, Finch gets back to cut but it takes the thick outside edge behind. Sarfaraz fails to hang on to the catch and it deflects off his gloves to short third man. |
| 16.3 : M Hafeez to A Finch, FOUR! Don't let the off spinner settle. Finch advances down the track to a full ball and drills it back past the bowler for a boundary at long off. |
| 16.4 : M Hafeez to A Finch, FOUR! 23rd ODI fifty for Aaron Finch! He has decided to cut loose here. Receives another short ball outside off and this time he smashes it through point. Superb knock by the skipper after getting a couple of lives earlier. 100 up for Australia as well. |
| 16.5 : M Hafeez to A Finch, SIX! High and handsome! Too full in length on middle, Finch stretches forward to get it in his arc and heaves it massively over mid-wicket for a biggie. |
| 16.6 : M Hafeez to A Finch, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. 16 from the first over of spin. |
| Drinks break! This has been a very powerful start to the game for Australia. The initial burst by Amir was weathered and the remainder of the stuff has been easy for Warner and Finch to handle. Pakistan have been pretty bad on the field as well. They have dropped Finch twice and missed a run out opportunity as well. They desperately need something to go right for them now or the Aussies could bat them out of the game with this kind of platform. |
| 17.1 : S Afridi to A Finch, Too full in length on middle, Finch punches it down back to the bowler. |
| 17.2 : S Afridi to A Finch, Shortish and around leg, Finch defends it on the leg side and crosses. Afridi has overstepped so the next ball will be a Free Hit. |
| S Afridi to D Warner, Fullish and in the line of the stumps, Warner makes room for his drive but finds the cover fielder. No harm done on the bonus delivery. |
| 17.3 : S Afridi to D Warner, Short and wide outside off, David plays a cracking square cut and rushes back for the second run. |
| 17.4 : S Afridi to D Warner, A rising delivery on off, Warner goes on his toes to play but it takes the inside edge and runs behind square leg for one. |
| 17.5 : S Afridi to A Finch, Beauty! Afridi switches to 'round the wicket and gets a length ball to straighten from around off. Finch tries to defend but is beaten. |
| 17.6 : S Afridi to A Finch, Length ball straighter in line, Finch works it wide of mid on and crosses for a run. |
| 18.1 : M Hafeez to A Finch, Floated full ball around leg, Finch tries to sweep but fails to connect. |
| 18.2 : M Hafeez to A Finch, Quicker and flatter on middle, Finch goes deep inside the crease and defends it to mid-wicket. |
| 18.3 : M Hafeez to A Finch, Walks forward to a full ball and works it behind square leg for a run. |
| 18.4 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Goes on the back foot and punches it to deep cover for a run. |
| 18.5 : M Hafeez to A Finch, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 18.6 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Skidding down the leg side, Warner tries flicking but misses and it goes behind off his pads towards short fine leg. A leg bye to close this over, 4 from it. |
| 19.1 : H Ali to D Warner, Good length ball on middle and leg, Warner tries working on the leg side but misses again. A bonus run as the ball rolls behind square leg. |
| 19.2 : H Ali to A Finch, Fullish and on off, Finch is on the front foot and closes the face of his bat slightly to work it through mid-wicket for two. |
| 19.3 : H Ali to A Finch, Fractionally short and on off, cutting back in with extra bounce and catching Finch in an awkward position. He somehow keeps it out at mid-wicket and rushes to the other end. The fielder picks up the ball and has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Aaron anyway would have been in safely. |
| 19.4 : H Ali to D Warner, Strides forward to a full ball and drives it to mid off. |
| 19.5 : H Ali to D Warner, Gets on the front foot and pushes it with an angled bat to sweeper cover for a run. |
| 19.6 : H Ali to A Finch, Good length ball on off, Finch walks across and chops it down towards point. Three decent overs from Pakistan after the Drinks break. |
| 20.1 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Tosses it up on off, Warner pushes it through covers and gives the strike over to Finch. Smart batting. |
| 20.2 : M Hafeez to A Finch, A straighter line by Finch, he works it to mid-wicket. |
| 20.3 : M Hafeez to A Finch, SIX! Finch is taking Hafeez apart here! He makes room again and Hafeez floats it up. Finch powers it high and handsome over the mid-wicket fence. |
| 20.4 : M Hafeez to A Finch, SIX! Not as big as the last one but surely the desired result. Brings out the slog sweep and drags it from outside off. It is not off the middle but still clears the mid-wicket fence. Consecutive maximums again for Finch. |
| The ball slips out of Hafeez's hand! He needs to reload. |
| 20.5 : M Hafeez to A Finch, Hafeez bowls this flatter and on off, Finch waits for it and guides it towards short third man for one. |
| 20.6 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Nicely bowled! Slows it up and then gets it to skid after pitching. Warner defends outside the line and gets an inside edge towards the leg side. Another good over for the Aussies. |
| 21.1 : H Ali to A Finch, Goes short and on the body of Finch, he pulls it down to fine leg for one. |
| 21.2 : H Ali to D Warner, Absolute jaffa! Hassan from around the wicket goes wide of the crease and angles it into the batter. It pitches and straightens. Warner looks to work it on the leg side with the angle but due to the straightening of the ball, he gets beaten. The length was a touch shorter and hence it goes over the stumps. |
| 21.3 : H Ali to D Warner, Another no ball! This time by Hassan Ali. He has overstepped. Back of a length ball on off, Warner pushes it towards cover for one. This time Finch will be facing the Free Hit. |
| Free Hit coming up! |
| H Ali to A Finch, Just the single off the Free Hit! Good delivery, gets it right up there. Finch fails to get under it and he only hits it down to long on for one. |
| 21.4 : H Ali to D Warner, Another single as this is worked towards mid-wicket. |
| 21.5 : H Ali to A Finch, Back of a length on off, Finch pushes it through covers for one. Runs coming easily at the moment for Australia. |
| 21.6 : H Ali to D Warner, FOUR! Fifty for Warner, his third in the 4 games he has played in this World Cup and it is his 20th in ODIs. It has taken him just 51 balls this time. Right from the outset he has looked positive today. He gets there with a delightful square drive. It is a length ball, David uses the pace of the bowler, opens the face at the very end and drives it through point. He would be eyeing a big one here and he looks all set to do so. |
| 22.1 : M Amir to A Finch, OUT! A catch has been taken that was offered by Aaron Finch. First breakthrough for Pakistan. They will be relieved more than happy. Amir serves a length delivery on middle, probably a slower one, Finch tries powering it across the line but is early into his shot. He ends up ballooning it in the air at extra cover, Hafeez gets underneath it, keeps his eyes on the ball and grabs it safely. The 146-run stand is broken and a knock full of lives for Finch is over. |
| 0.0 : Steve Smith is the new man in! |
| 22.2 : M Amir to D Warner, Good length and on off, Warner pushes it towards cover for one. |
| 22.3 : M Amir to S Smith, Smith is off the mark straightaway! He shuffles right across and works it through mid-wicket for one. |
| 22.4 : M Amir to D Warner, Lovely delivery again! It pitches outside off and then jags back in sharply. Warner looks to play away from his body but is beaten on the inside edge. Pakistan suddenly have their tails up. The crowd too has found its voice here. |
| 22.5 : M Amir to D Warner, BEATEN AGAIN! This time the outside edge is beaten. The ball straightens after pitching around off, Warner plays inside the line and it whizzes past the outside edge. |
| 22.6 : M Amir to D Warner, A single to end a top over by Amir. Just the three runs and a wicket from it. Back of a length around off, Warner pushes it through the off side for one. |
| 23.1 : H Ali to D Warner, FOUR! A half volley and it has been put away! Releases all the pressure that was built in the last over. On off, Warner leans into it and strokes it past the bowler and it races away. 150 up for Australia. |
| 23.2 : H Ali to D Warner, FOUR! Consecutive boundaries! Very poor from Hassan Ali. He needed to continue the pressure built by Amir in the last over but he has begun poorly. He goes very full again and on off, Warner this time strokes it through the right of mid off who gives up the chase instantly. |
| 23.3 : H Ali to D Warner, Now sprays this down the leg side from around the wicket. Warner misses the flick and it has been wided. |
| H Ali to D Warner, Another one on the leg side, Warner works it through square leg for one. |
| 23.4 : H Ali to S Smith, Attacks the stumps, this time, a better delivery. Smith keeps it out. |
| 23.5 : H Ali to S Smith, FOUR! Another half volley, this time to Smith and a man of his caliber won't miss out. Third boundary in the over. It is outside off, Smith shuffles across and strokes it through covers. |
| 23.6 : H Ali to S Smith, A dot to end an expensive over from Hassan! Length and outside off, it is left alone. Probably this was the last over for Hassan of this spell. Not a good one for him as he has gone for 29 in his 3. |
| 24.1 : M Amir to D Warner, Back of a length on off, it is kept out. |
| 24.2 : M Amir to D Warner, Another length ball on off, Warner keeps it out again. |
| 24.3 : M Amir to D Warner, Good running! Warner plays it with the angle towards mid-wicket and gets across for a single. |
| 24.4 : M Amir to S Smith, Another easy single as Smith pushes it through covers for one. |
| DRS time! An lbw appeal against Warner has not been entertained by the umpire. The impact looks to be clearly outside off. Sarfaraz hesitantly takes the referral after his bowler has a chat. The replays roll in and they show that the impact indeed was the issue. Review gone for Pakistan. |
| 24.5 : M Amir to D Warner, NOT OUT! The impact is outside off! A poor review by Pakistan. That always looked the case! Pakistan lose their only review. Amir lands it on a length outside off and then gets it to come back in. Warner plants his front foot outside the line and looks to play across. He misses and gets hit on the front pad. A huge appeal but the umpire shakes his head. Amir wants it to be reviewed but Sarfaraz is not sure. He eventually goes for it. Replays roll in and they show the on |
| 24.6 : M Amir to D Warner, Another top nut to end the over! Another excellent over by Amir. Around off and it holds its line. Warner once again plays inside the line but luckily for him, the ball whizzes past the outside edge. |
| It indeed was Hassan Ali's last over as he is replaced by Shoaib Malik! |
| 25.1 : S Malik to S Smith, Flatter and on off, Smith keeps it out. |
| 25.2 : S Malik to S Smith, Very full on middle, Smith hits it down to long on for one. |
| 25.3 : S Malik to D Warner, Outside off, this is slapped through covers for one. |
| 25.4 : S Malik to S Smith, Smith looks to go after Malik. He comes down the track but SM slows it up and bowls it on the pads. SS swings but misses to get hit on the pads. |
| 25.5 : S Malik to S Smith, Fires it on middle, Smith works it through square leg and gets to the other end. |
| 25.6 : S Malik to D Warner, A good over from Malik. 4 from it. Warner eases the last ball down to long on and takes a single. |
| Australia seem to have sensed that this is a high-scoring pitch. After all the early nervous moments survived by their openers, Aaron Finch to be precise, they are trying to build on that start. The approach of this pair is to play some aggressive cricket. Pakistan need to slip in some tidy overs but barring Mohammad Amir, no other bowler has looked dangerous. |
| 26.1 : M Amir to D Warner, Luck is just not with Amir here. Once again he goes past the outside edge. On a length and around off, Warner stays rooted to his crease and tries to defend but gets beaten. |
| 26.2 : M Amir to D Warner, This time Warner gets bat to ball and pushes it to covers. |
| 26.3 : M Amir to D Warner, Good change in length there! It is banged short and slightly outside off, Warner sways away from it. |
| 26.4 : M Amir to D Warner, Overthrow! Sloppy from Pakistan, very sloppy. This is on a length and around off, Warner looks to defend but it goes off the inner half towards mid-wicket. They take one, Warner wants a second but is sent back in time. The mid on fielder gets to the ball and gets rid of it quickly but the throw is a wild one. Way too away from the bowler and the batters eventually take the second. |
| 26.5 : M Amir to D Warner, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 26.6 : M Amir to D Warner, A single to end as Warner pushes it through covers. Very clever batting. He has taken no risks against Amir who is bowling so well. He has bowled 7 till now and this was probably his last over of this spell. |
| 27.1 : S Malik to D Warner, On the stumps, it is pushed back to the bowler. |
| 27.2 : S Malik to D Warner, Direct hit needed but misses! Malik once again bowls it on the stumps and Warner guides it towards point. Smith is off for a run but is sent back. The fielder has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. Smith's dive would have saved him though. |
| 27.3 : S Malik to D Warner, FOUR! A full toss and Warner puts it away! He strokes it through covers and the ball races away to the fence. Once again, the pressure is released with a poor ball. |
| 27.4 : S Malik to D Warner, Warner now slaps it hard through covers, closer to the sweeper so only a single. |
| 27.5 : S Malik to S Smith, NO BALL! Malik has overstepped! A spinner overstepping is a crime! Warner will have a Free Hit on the next ball as Smith gets to the other end by working it on the leg side. |
| S Malik to D Warner, SIX! Warner takes full toll of the Free Hit. He backs away and Malik bowls it quicker. It is too short and Warner powers it over the long on fence for a biggie. |
| 27.6 : S Malik to D Warner, Another overthrow! The wheels are coming off here for Pakistan. They look all over the place at the moment. Warner works this towards short fine leg and takes off. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses. No one backing up and another run is taken. |
| Bowling change. Mohammad Hafeez is back into the attack. |
| 28.1 : M Hafeez to S Smith, Shorter and on middle, this is pulled to deep square leg for one. |
| 28.2 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Warner stays leg side of the delivery and then manages to guide it through point for one. |
| 28.3 : M Hafeez to S Smith, Smith makes room but Hafeez follows him. SS pushes it to covers. |
| 28.4 : M Hafeez to S Smith, OUT! In the air... taken! Hafeez strikes! The bowling change once again pays dividends for Pakistan. This is a huge wicket as Steve Smith has been in very good form. He was looking to go after the off spinners. He steps out but Hafeez bowls it slightly shorter. Smith looks to whip it but is a touch early into the shot. He gets a leading edge which balloons behind cover. Asif Ali from mid off and Malik from cover both go for it but the former calls and takes a good catc |
| Glenn Maxwell is the new batsman in. |
| 28.5 : M Hafeez to D Warner, On the stumps, it is kept out. |
| 28.6 : M Hafeez to D Warner, A single to end a successful over for Pakistan. He strokes it down to long off and retains strike. |
| 29.1 : S Malik to D Warner, On off and it straightens, it goes off the outer half towards point. The fielder fumbles but no runs conceded. |
| 29.2 : S Malik to D Warner, On the stumps, it is kept out. |
| 29.3 : S Malik to D Warner, Flatter and on off, Warner guides it to point. 3 dots. |
| 29.4 : S Malik to D Warner, Make that 4 as Warner blocks another one out. |
| 29.5 : S Malik to D Warner, 5 dots! Good fielding by Malik. Warner comes down the track and pushes it to the right of SM. He gets there quickly and saves a run. |
| 29.6 : S Malik to D Warner, Just the single from the over! Shorter on off, Warner goes back and pushes it through covers for one. |
| 30.1 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Flighted ball on middle, Warner strokes it down to long on for one. |
| 30.2 : M Hafeez to G Maxwell, Flatter and on middle, Maxwell pushes it down to long on off the back foot for one. |
| 30.3 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Uses his feet and makes it into a low full toss, Warner hits it down to long on for one. |
| 30.4 : M Hafeez to G Maxwell, Works it with the turn through mid-wicket for one. |
| 30.5 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Tossed up ball on off, Warner finds cover with the drive. |
| 30.6 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Shorter and on off, Warner goes back and slaps it towards the cover fielder who dives to his right and makes a half-stop. Another single. |
| 31.1 : S Malik to D Warner, BEATEN! This is flatter and outside off, Warner looks to cut but is beaten by the extra bounce. |
| 31.2 : S Malik to D Warner, Good shot and well fielded! Very full and Warner manages to squeeze it past cover. Afridi runs to his right from long off and saves two for his side. |
| 31.3 : S Malik to D Warner, Flatter and on off, Warner pushes it past cover for one. |
| 31.4 : S Malik to G Maxwell, Shorter in length and on off, Maxwell guides it behind point for a brace. 200 up for Australia. |
| 31.5 : S Malik to G Maxwell, Hits it with the angle towards wide mid off for a single. |
| 31.6 : S Malik to D Warner, On the stumps, Warner pushes it back towards the bowler firmly. |
| 32.1 : M Hafeez to G Maxwell, FOUR! A long-hop and Warner pounces on it. He goes back and pulls it hard in the gap in the mid-wicket region for a boundary. |
| 32.2 : M Hafeez to G Maxwell, Comes down the track this time but does not get to the pitch of the ball, mistimes it to long on for one. |
| 32.3 : M Hafeez to D Warner, A yorker and Warner jams it out to the bowler. |
| 32.4 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Uses his feet and strokes it down to long off for one. |
| 32.5 : M Hafeez to G Maxwell, FOUR! Second boundary in the over! This time to the left of the fielder in the deep. Shorter and on middle, Maxwell goes back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a one bounce boundary. |
| 32.6 : M Hafeez to G Maxwell, SIX! Effortless! Lovely from Maxwell! Hafeez tosses this one on off from around the wicket. Maxwell nonchalantly lofts it over the long off fence and it goes over the fence. 16 from the over. |
| Drinks break. Wow, two gorgeous shots by Glenn Maxwell just lit up the stadium. The Big Show is looking in the mood and these are ominous signs for Pakistan. David Warner is closing in on his century and if this power-pair lasts another 10 overs or so, Australia will be heading towards a massive total. Whatever happens in the next phase, it promises to be thrilling. |
| Shaheen Afridi is back! |
| 33.1 : S Afridi to D Warner, FOUR! Runs flowing now! Poor start by Afridi again. Short and outside off, Warner looks to cut but the ball flies off the outside edge and to the third man fence. |
| 33.2 : S Afridi to D Warner, Shortish again on off, Warner manages to guide it towards third man for one. |
| 33.3 : S Afridi to G Maxwell, On the fuller side on off, Maxwell hits it to long on. |
| 33.4 : S Afridi to G Maxwell, OUT! TIMBER! The Big Show is out of here! A much-needed wicket for Shaheen Afridi. He must be mighty pleased and this should make him feel a lot better. This is bowled on a length and around middle, Maxwell looks to go big but his feet were going nowhere. He misses it completely and the stumps are shattered. Big wicket as now there are probably no power-hitters left for Australia. |
| Who will come in next? Khawaja? Marsh? Carey? Coulter-Nile? With Warner still there, Australia have decided to send Shaun Marsh ahead of everyone. Where will Khawaja bat is a good question at the moment... |
| 33.5 : S Afridi to S Marsh, Good delivery! Gets it very full on off, Marsh jams it down to third man for one. |
| 33.6 : S Afridi to D Warner, Goes for another yorker but ends up bowling a full toss. Warner hits it towards cover. |
| 34.1 : M Hafeez to S Marsh, Floats it on the pads, this is worked towards backward square leg. The fielder there does not stop it cleanly but the second is not taken. |
| 34.2 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Warner steps down the track and strokes it down to long off for one. |
| 34.3 : M Hafeez to S Marsh, On off, Marsh strokes it to covers. |
| 34.4 : M Hafeez to S Marsh, Goes short this time and on off, Marsh hits it through covers for one. |
| 34.5 : M Hafeez to D Warner, Shortish again on off, Warner guides it through point for one. |
| 34.6 : M Hafeez to S Marsh, On the stumps, blocked. |
| 35.1 : S Afridi to D Warner, FOUR! Between the keeper and the first slip and Warner gets to his ton in a fortunate manner. He won't care though. He is up and running in his celebration. His 15th in ODIs. Top knock from him. Afridi bowls this on a length and around off, Warner pushes at it but the ball goes off the outside edge past the diving first slip fielder and down to the third man fence. He has a lot of time to make it a daddy hundred and take Australia to a huge total. |
| 35.2 : S Afridi to D Warner, Back of a length on off, Warner guides it past point for a couple. |
| 35.3 : S Afridi to D Warner, Shorter and around off, Warner looks to cut but the ball is too close to play that shot. Gets beaten. |
| 35.4 : S Afridi to D Warner, Good length on off, this is guided towards point for one. |
| 35.5 : S Afridi to S Marsh, Attacks the off pole and Marsh pushes it to mid off. |
| 35.6 : S Afridi to S Marsh, So two dots to end! Good comeback in the end by the bowler. Full and on off again, Marsh pushes it back towards the bowler. |
| Wahab Riaz is back! |
| 36.1 : W Riaz to D Warner, In the air... dropped! Warner continues riding his luck. Asif Ali has dropped a sitter. Another one by him. Just not been his day in the field. Wahab Riaz almost struck on return. Short and around off, Warner upper cuts it straight to third man who spills it. The batters take two. Needed to take that, this could prove very, very costly. |
| 36.2 : W Riaz to D Warner, Back of a length on off, this is guided down to third man for one. |
| 36.3 : W Riaz to S Marsh, Back of a length on off, Marsh hangs his bat out and gets beaten. |
| 36.4 : W Riaz to S Marsh, Marsh works it towards mid-wicket mid-wicket and takes one. |
| 36.5 : W Riaz to D Warner, Very full and on off, Warner strokes it to mid off. |
| 36.6 : W Riaz to D Warner, Another dot as Warner guides this to point. Could have easily been a successful over for Pakistan. Still a good one for them though as only 4 came from it. |
| 37.1 : S Afridi to S Marsh, Very full, this is jammed through mid-wicket for a brace. |
| 37.2 : S Afridi to S Marsh, Extra bounce! Shorter and outside off, Marsh looks to cut but is beaten by the extra bounce. Sarfaraz likes it. |
| 37.3 : S Afridi to S Marsh, On the shorter side again, this is guided down to third man for one. |
| 37.4 : S Afridi to D Warner, Length and on off, Warner initially looks to pull but seeing the ball skid through, he blocks it out. |
| 37.5 : S Afridi to D Warner, OUT! TAKEN! Warner departs! Asif Ali will be the happiest man out there at the moment as the dropped catch does not cost Pakistan a lot. Afridi gets his second. He has bowled really well after getting his first. He bowls this fuller and on off, Warner looks to go over covers but ends up slicing it high up in the air towards sweeper cover. Imam-ul-Haq in the deep judges it well and takes a good catch. Warner knew straightaway that he was a goner. A brilliant innings fr |
| Usman Khawaja is the new batsman in at number 6. This is his first innings at this position. |
| 37.6 : S Afridi to S Marsh, A leg bye to end! On the pads, Marsh looks to flick but misses to get hit on the pads. The ball rolls towards the leg side a run is taken. There was an appeal from the bowler but it was slipping down leg. |
| 38.1 : W Riaz to S Marsh, Sharp delivery at 145 kph, Marsh uses the face and runs it down to third man for a run. |
| 38.2 : W Riaz to U Khawaja, Full and on middle, Khawaja gets behind the line and blocks. |
| 38.3 : W Riaz to U Khawaja, Shortish and on middle and leg, Usman pulls it through backward square leg for a run. |
| 38.4 : W Riaz to S Marsh, Tries to run a length ball down to third man but fails to middle his shot. It goes off the bottom half towards point. |
| 38.5 : W Riaz to S Marsh, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 38.6 : W Riaz to U Khawaja, Outside off, guided down to third man for one. |
| 39.1 : S Afridi to U Khawaja, On a good length on off, Khawaja defends it to point. |
| 39.2 : S Afridi to U Khawaja, Full on middle, Usman plays it towards mid on for a single. |
| 39.3 : S Afridi to S Marsh, Length delivery on middle, Marsh flicks it through mid-wicket. The batsmen get two runs. |
| 39.4 : S Afridi to S Marsh, FOUR! Poor fielding. Full and outside off, Marsh drives it through mid off where the fielder dives late and the ball goes through him for a boundary. |
| 39.5 : S Afridi to S Marsh, Length delivery on off, Shaun plays it towards covers for a run. |
| 39.6 : S Afridi to U Khawaja, Full on middle, Khawaja drives it to long on for a run. 9 runs have come from the over. Big over for Australia. |
| Powerplay 3 time! A maximum of five fielders can now be kept outside the 30-yard circle till the end of the innings. |
| 40.1 : W Riaz to U Khawaja, Shortish and on off, Khawaja opens the face of his bat late to play it towards gully but there is a gully in place to stop it. |
| 40.2 : W Riaz to U Khawaja, FOUR! Powerfully played! Short in length and outside off, Usman stands tall inside the crease and pulls it down to deep mid-wicket for a boundary. |
| 40.3 : W Riaz to U Khawaja, FOUR! Cheeky! This is smart batting from Usman. He uses the pace of the bowler and runs it fine down to third man for back-to-back boundaries. |
| 40.4 : W Riaz to U Khawaja, Outside off, this time Khawaja guides it to third man for one. |
| 40.5 : W Riaz to S Marsh, FOUR! Poor bowling. A low full toss on off, Marsh crunches his drive through covers, beats the in-ring fielder and away it goes to the fence in no time. |
| 40.6 : W Riaz to S Marsh, Shortish and outside off, Marsh pokes at it and misses. 13 from the over. |
| Hassan Ali is back! |
| 41.1 : H Ali to U Khawaja, FOUR! 4th boundary in 7 balls! Poor line, down the leg side, Khawaja works it fine on the leg side and bags a boundary. Boundary to begin the over, pressure on the bowler. |
| 41.2 : H Ali to U Khawaja, Better! Angles this away from the batter on off, Khawaja looks to guide it but misses. |
| 41.3 : H Ali to U Khawaja, On middle, Khawaja whips it stylishly through square leg for one. |
| 41.4 : H Ali to S Marsh, That has been creamed through covers but straight to the fielder in the deep. Just a single. |
| 41.5 : H Ali to U Khawaja, WIDE! Way too short and way too wide. Khawaja does go after it but misses. |
| H Ali to U Khawaja, Fuller and on off, UK pushes it to covers. |
| 41.6 : H Ali to U Khawaja, Khawaja misses out there! This is on the pads again, UK looks to pull but misses to get hit on the thigh pad. The ball rolls towards fine leg. Leg bye taken. |
| Mohammad Amir is back on. |
| 42.1 : M Amir to U Khawaja, OUT! Amir gets his second! Half the side back in the hut for Australia. Another time today, the bowling change works wonders. It is the slower one and full on off, very full actually. Khawaja looks to go over mid off but fails to get under it. He hits it straight to the fielder there. Wahab Riaz makes no mistake. |
| 0.0 : Alex Carey arrives in the middle. He scored a quickfire half century against India in the last match and Australia will be hoping for a similar performance from him again. |
| 42.2 : M Amir to A Carey, Good ball to welcome the new batsman. A yorker on middle, Carey gets his bat down in time. |
| 42.3 : M Amir to A Carey, BEATEN! Length and outside off, Carey goes after it but misses. |
| 42.4 : M Amir to A Carey, Lovely bowling this! Outside off and it shapes away late. Carey feels for it initially but then pulls out of the shot. |
| 42.5 : M Amir to A Carey, Carey gets underway as he pushes it down to long on for one. |
| 42.6 : M Amir to S Marsh, Swing and a miss! Outside off, it may have been the slower one. Marsh looks to drive but is a touch early into the shot. Misses. Just a single in the over. Top stuff from Amir. |
| 43.1 : H Ali to A Carey, Another overthrow! This is pushed towards cover and the batters go for a run. Hafeez has a shy at the non-striker's end. No one backing up and another run is taken. |
| 43.2 : H Ali to A Carey, Back of a length and on the body of the batsman, it is pushed back to the bowler. |
| 43.3 : H Ali to A Carey, On the stumps again, Carey pushes it back to the bowler once again. |
| 43.4 : H Ali to A Carey, Close! Carey strokes this full ball towards mid off and takes off. Hafeez is the fielder, he has a shy at the bowler's end but misses. |
| 43.5 : H Ali to S Marsh, Good slower one! Marsh, in the end, guides it down to third man for one. |
| 43.6 : H Ali to A Carey, FOUR! Spoils the over completely! Lovely shot by Carey. He makes room and Hassan bowls it full on middle. Carey strokes it nicely past mid off and the ball races away to the fence. |
| 44.1 : M Amir to S Marsh, Well bowled but well played! Slower one on off and this one takes off after pitching. Marsh still manages to guide it down to third man for one. |
| 44.2 : M Amir to A Carey, Another single as Carey helps it on its way to the fine leg fielder for one. |
| 44.3 : M Amir to S Marsh, OUT! Marsh holes out! Australia have lost their way here! Third for Mohammad Amir and he has been the standout bowler for Pakistan today. Bowls a length ball and it seems to be the slower one. Marsh looks to loft it over the long on fence but only manages to get height on it. Malik there settles under it and takes the catch safely. |
| Nathan Coulter-Nile is the new man in. |
| 44.4 : M Amir to A Carey, Shorter and on off, this is guided down to third man for one. |
| 44.5 : M Amir to N Coulter-Nile, Good length and on off, this is hit through covers for one. |
| 44.6 : M Amir to A Carey, Quick run! Another slower one on middle, Carey guides it to point and gets to the other end. Another excellent over by Amir. |
| 45.1 : H Ali to A Carey, Angled into the batsman, cramped him for room. Carey looks to work it on the leg side but misses to get hit on the pads. |
| 45.2 : H Ali to A Carey, FOUR! Pulled and pulled well! Slightly short and on middle, Carey goes back and pulls it in the vacant mid-wicket region for a boundary. Handy runs these. |
| 45.3 : H Ali to A Carey, Once again this is angled into the pads, Carey looks to work it on the leg side but misses to get hit high on the thigh pad. |
| 45.4 : H Ali to A Carey, Well fielded! Carey shuffles right across and goes for the heave. It goes off the inner half towards fine leg where Riaz runs to his left, slides and keeps it down to one. |
| 45.5 : H Ali to N Coulter-Nile, Back of a length on off, NCN guides it down to third man for one. |
| 45.6 : H Ali to A Carey, A yorker and Carey jams it out through covers for one. So despite the boundary, just the 7 runs from the over. |
| Wahab Riaz is back on! |
| 46.1 : W Riaz to A Carey, Goes extremely full and on off, Carey looks to hit it through the off side but it goes off the inner half towards square leg for one. Singles are something Pakistan won't mind at the moment. |
| 46.2 : W Riaz to N Coulter-Nile, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! Wahab Riaz is amongst the wickets now. A very good catch by Sarfaraz this. Riaz goes full and on off, Coulter-Nile looks to go big but ends up playing outside the line. The ball goes off the inside edge, almost wrong-footed Ahmed who reacts quickly and takes a good catch falling to his left. Pakistan continue fighting back here. |
| Pat Cummins is the new batsman. |
| 46.3 : W Riaz to Pat Cummins, On the middle pole, Cummins keeps it out. |
| 46.4 : W Riaz to Pat Cummins, That was quick! It was bowled at 142 KPH. Length and around off, Cummins looks to cut but is beaten by the extra bounce. |
| 46.5 : W Riaz to Pat Cummins, Another bumper! Once again it zips through. Cummins ducks under it. |
| 46.6 : W Riaz to Pat Cummins, Just a single to end! Pakistan won't mind as that would keep Carey off strike. On the pads, Cummins works it through square leg to bring up the 300. Two runs and a wicket from the over. Outstanding one at this stage. |
| 47.1 : H Ali to Pat Cummins, Gets off strike straightaway! Does the smart thing as he pushes it towards mid off for one. |
| 47.2 : H Ali to A Carey, Full and on middle, Carey works it towards long on and gets to the other end. |
| 47.3 : H Ali to Pat Cummins, OUT! 8 down now are Australia. Hassan Ali gets one. He goes short and cramps Cummins for room. PC picks the wrong shot to play as he tries to upper cut it. Too close to play that and also does not have the pace to work with. It goes into the mitts of Sarfaraz Ahmed. No real celebration from Pakistan but they are doing a tremendous job here. |
| Mitchell Starc is the new batsman in. |
| 47.4 : H Ali to M Starc, Leading edge! Goes very full and on middle, Starc looks to work it on the leg side but gets a soft leading edge towards one. |
| 47.5 : H Ali to M Starc, Short and on the body, Starc looks to nudge it but misses to get hit on the body. |
| 47.6 : H Ali to M Starc, Another short one on middle, Starc looks to pull but misses. Just the two from this over. Another top over for Pakistan. |
| Mohammad Amir is back on. Two away from a fifer. Can he finish things off in this over? |
| 48.1 : M Amir to A Carey, Digs in a short ball on off, Carey plays a half-hearted pull shot behind square leg for a run. |
| 48.2 : M Amir to M Starc, Spears in a full ball on off, Starc flicks and once again the ball rolls behind square leg for one. |
| Carey is a goner! He though reviews. Only an inside edge can save him here. There seems to be no inside edge though. Ultra Edge confirms that and Hawk Eye shows three reds. |
| 48.3 : M Amir to A Carey, OUT! Wicket number 4 for Mohammad Amir! What a bowler, what an outstanding bowler! Dishes out a perfect yorker on leg, Carey is beaten in pace as the bat comes down late. He is rapped on the back leg, the bowler appeals and the umpire raises his finger. Carey takes the DRS, there is no inside edge on the Ultra Edge and the Ball Tracker confirms it to be smashing the leg pole. |
| Kane Richardson is the last batsman for Australia. |
| 48.4 : M Amir to K Richardson, Angles across a length delivery outside off, Richardson leans forward and strokes it through cover-point for a run. |
| 48.5 : M Amir to M Starc, Brilliantly stopped by Shaheen Afridi. Full delivery, sliding down the leg side, Starc flicks it off the inner half to fine leg and the ball races away. Shaheen in the deep dives to stop two runs for his team. |
| 48.6 : M Amir to M Starc, OUT! Maiden ODI fifer for Amir and Australia are bowled out for 307! A well-deserved fifer for Mohammad Amir. He was brilliant today and is single handedly responsible for where Pakistan are in the game at the moment. He bowls this full and on middle, Starc hits it nicely but does not get the desired elevation. Malik at long on runs to his right and takes a neat catch. |
| Pakistan arrived late in this match but what an arrival! They were down in the dumps after plenty of fielding mishaps and the big century opening stand but kept on fighting. Mohammad Amir then provided the initial breakthrough and after that Pakistan kept on chipping away at the wickets. Australia probably adopted England's fearless attitude of playing aggressively but that didn't pay off well. The fall of wickets at regular intervals meant that they were left with no big hitter to do the job at |
| Earlier, Pakistan won a crucial toss under overcast conditions and Sarfaraz hoped that his pacers will extract some help from the surface. But his bowlers were completely off colour with the new balls, barring Amir. Things though changed for better after the fall of Finch's wicket. David Warner got to his century but Pakistan kept on applying the pressure. The Asian team played out the second half of this match brilliantly and bundled Australia out with one over left. Mohammad Amir finished with |
| 146/0 in the 23rd over and 307 all out in the 49th over - Australia will be deeply disappointed at the moment. The conditions were tough early on but the Aussie openers weathered the storm well. They were helped by the Pakistan bowlers and fielders also. Finch batted in full flow while Warner too showed maturity in his knock and went on to score a century. The Aussie innings though never kicked off after losing David Warner and they had no answers to Pakistan's brilliant bowling in the last 10. |
| Ramiz Raja is taking David Warner's interview. The Aussie opener says that he was disappointed as he got out with 70 balls to go. Credits Amir for the way he bowled. Mentions they need to be disciplined with the ball. Further adds the pitch is a good one and they need to bowl good lines and lengths. States early wickets will be the key on this pitch. Reckons they do have a good total but they need to respect the opposition as well. |
| A target of 308 is still a challenging one on this pitch! There is plenty of juice in the surface and Australia have the bowlers to utilize that. Stats say that Pakistan's highest successful chase in World Cups is 263 while against Australia, their highest is 274. So, a record effort will be needed from the team in green. Knowing their mercurial nature, it's tough to predict which way this chase will go. Do join us in a short while to find out. |
| 0.0 : We are back for the chase! The Pakistan openers, Fakhar Zaman and Imam-ul-Haq, walk out to the middle. Imam will take strike and he will be facing Pat Cummins who has the first new ball in hand. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : Pat Cummins to Imam, Cummins begins with a NO BALL! A freebie for Imam to get off the mark. What better could you have asked for? The ball though is a good one, on a length and around off, Imam keeps it out. |
| A Free Hit coming up! |
| Pat Cummins to Imam, Nothing off the Free Hit! Good pacey short one outside off. Imam looks to pull but is done in for pace. |
| 0.2 : Pat Cummins to Imam, BEATEN! Well bowled! Lands this on off and angles this away from the batter. Imam looks to defend inside the line but gets beaten. |
| 0.3 : Pat Cummins to Imam, On the middle pole, Imam pushes it to mid on. |
| 0.4 : Pat Cummins to Imam, Imam-ul-Haq and Pakistan are off the mark. On the pads, Imam works it fine on the leg side for one. |
| 0.5 : Pat Cummins to F Zaman, Good length and outside off, exactly where you should be bowling to Zaman. He shoulders arms to it. |
| 0.6 : Pat Cummins to F Zaman, A lovely end to the over! Cummins completely squares Zaman up. He lands it around middle and off, gets this one to jag away. Zaman is opened up in his defense and the ball whizzes past the outside edge. So a good first over by Cummins comes to an end. |
| Mitchell Starc to bowl with the second new ball. Three slips in place for him as well. |
| 1.1 : M Starc to Imam, Starts with a length delivery in the channel outside off, good pace, at 141 kph, Imam keeps his bat inside the line and allows it through to the keeper. |
| 1.2 : M Starc to Imam, This one is darted on a length around middle and leg, Imam works it off his pads but fails to find the gap. |
| 1.3 : M Starc to Imam, Outswinger outside off, on a length, Imam keeps playing inside the line of the ball and is beaten. |
| 1.4 : M Starc to Imam, Straighter delivery, Imam plays it with gentle hands towards mid-wicket and his partner eyes a run. Is sent back. |
| 1.5 : M Starc to Imam, Play and a miss! Back of a length delivery outside off, Imam stays back to punch it through covers but the ball climbs up and beats the outside edge. |
| 1.6 : M Starc to Imam, Stifled appeal for a catch by Carey! Beautiful delivery by Starc, he spears it full and around off and gets it to straighten just a shade. Imam tries playing straight but is beaten. |
| 2.1 : Pat Cummins to F Zaman, OUT! Cummins strikes to remove the danger man! Cummins offers width outside off, Fakhar spots the chance to free his arms, throws his bat at it but it takes the outside half and flies down to third man. Kane Richardson in the deep moves across to his right and takes the catch safely. Early success for the Aussie and it's a big one too. Pat is all smiles and high-fives all around. |
| 0.0 : Babar Azam is the new batsman. Australia on the attack. They have a short leg in place. |
| 2.2 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Around off on a length, Babar remains on the back foot in defense. |
| 2.3 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Good line from Cummins. Serves a length ball close to off stump, Azam watches it closely before shouldering his arms. |
| 2.4 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Solidly gets behind the line of the delivery and blocks it well from the back foot. |
| 2.5 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, FOUR! If there is a scoring opportunity, Babar will take it. Cummins offers a bit of room outside off, Babar latches onto it and smashes it aerially over cover-point. |
| 2.6 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Azam has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 3.1 : M Starc to Imam, Good length ball on off, angling in, Imam defends it from the crease. |
| 3.2 : M Starc to Imam, Another delivery angling into the batsman from around off, Imam turns it on the leg side but finds the square leg fielder. |
| 3.3 : M Starc to Imam, FOUR! Fighting fire with fire! Starc bangs in a 141 kph short delivery on off, Imam shows the courage to pull it off his front foot. He connects superbly and sends it flying in front of square leg for a boundary. |
| 3.4 : M Starc to Imam, Starc replies with a 91 mph yorker on middle, credit to the batsman for digging it out at the last moment. |
| 3.5 : M Starc to Imam, On a length around middle, Imam goes on his toes and plays it down to mid on. |
| 3.6 : M Starc to Imam, Fullish and on middle, Imam gets behind the line and pushes it out to mid on. |
| 4.1 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, FOUR! Silky! With three slips in place, Australia have kept the cover region vacant to encourage Babar to play through that area. Azam takes on the challenge and gloriously puts a length ball through the off side for a boundary. Cummins won't mind that much. |
| 4.2 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Good length ball close to off, Babar is on the back foot in defense. |
| 4.3 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Angles in a length ball on off, Azam is slightly forward in defense. |
| 4.4 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Fuller and on off, Azam defends it off his front foot again. |
| 4.5 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 4.6 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, FOUR! Crunched! Babar showing his class. Once again he leans into his shot and creams a length ball through covers for a boundary. Two fours from the over! |
| 5.1 : M Starc to Imam, Around off on a length, Imam jumps and defends it from the crease. |
| 5.2 : M Starc to Imam, Beaten! Back of a length delivery outside off, holding its line, Imam stays back to feel for it but fails to connect. |
| 5.3 : M Starc to Imam, EDGY FOUR! A 144 kph short delivery, Imam turns inside the crease to fetch it from outside off but gets a thick outside edge which flies over the slip cordon for a boundary. |
| 5.4 : M Starc to Imam, FOUR! This was coming... this was coming... Starc spears in a very full ball on middle at 149 kph, Imam does extremely well there to anticipate it and not only he gets bat on ball but he also puts it away through mid-wicket. Great battle, this! |
| 5.5 : M Starc to Imam, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 5.6 : M Starc to Imam, FOUR! Poor line and this one deserved to be put away. A good length ball sliding down the leg side, Imam picks it up off his pads and neatly deflects it down to fine leg for a boundary. Two boundaries in the last over, three in this one. Pakistan dealing only in fours at the moment. |
| 6.1 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Good length ball on off, angling in, Babar defends it carefully from the crease. |
| 6.2 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, FOUR! Elegance personified! Cummins pitches it up and outside off, Babar presses forward and stylishly drives it through the gap between mid off and extra cover. Not a single muscle moved in the field. Sit back and enjoy this extraordinary talent from Pakistan. So easy to the eyes. |
| 6.3 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 6.4 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, A length ball on off, Azam stays back footed and keeps it out to point. |
| 6.5 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Lands it on a length around off, angling in at 142 kph, Babar blocks. |
| 6.6 : Pat Cummins to B Azam, Gets behind the line of the delivery and pushes it out to mid on. Just a single boundary this time from the over. |
| Bowling change. Kane Richardson replaces Mitchell Starc into the attack. |
| 7.1 : K Richardson to Imam, Edged but safe! Full in length and outside off, Imam is lured into the drive but gets a thick outside edge behind to third slip. It falls in front of Smith. |
| 7.2 : K Richardson to Imam, This time the line is straight for some reason known only to Kane. Imam easily works it behind square leg to rotate the strike. Finally a single after the fourth ball of this chase. |
| 7.3 : K Richardson to B Azam, FOUR! Richardson is not bowling to his field at the moment. Back of a length delivery angling down the leg side, Babar gets on his toes and tickles it fine down the leg side for a boundary. |
| 7.4 : K Richardson to B Azam, Offers the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 7.5 : K Richardson to B Azam, Short in length on middle, Babar pulls it from the middle of the bat but straight to the deep square leg fielder for a single. |
| 7.6 : K Richardson to Imam, Shortish and outside off, slower in pace probably, Imam tries to pull but bails out at the last moment. |
| Nathan Coulter-Nile into the attack now. Is on 49 ODI wickets. |
| 8.1 : N Coulter-Nile to B Azam, Good length ball on off, Azam is squared up a bit in his defense and the outside edge runs down to third man for a run. |
| 8.2 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Four leg byes! Drifting down the leg side, Imam tries his best to glance but misses. It takes his thigh pad and speeds fine down the leg side for a boundary. |
| 8.3 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 8.4 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Back of a length ball on off, defended yet again off the back foot by Imam. |
| 8.5 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Too full in length on off, Imam plays a punch on drive past the diving bowler to mid on. |
| 8.6 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Good length ball outside off, some extra bounce too, Imam does well to guide it down to third man for one. |
| 9.1 : K Richardson to Imam, Richardson runs in from 'round the wicket and angles in a good length ball on middle, Imam stays back footed in defense. |
| 9.2 : K Richardson to Imam, Beautiful delivery! Lavish movement and bounce for Kane! Shortish and around off, straightening after pitching, Imam tries to deal with it from the back foot but gets beaten. |
| 9.3 : K Richardson to Imam, Aerial but safe! Identical to the last delivery, once again Imam pushes inside the line and gets it away off the outer half of his bat to third man. A single is taken. |
| 9.4 : K Richardson to B Azam, Nearly drags it on! Excellent delivery from Richardson. Switches back to over the wicket for the right-hander and once again gets some extra bounce from the surface. It's around off and Babar shapes up to run it down to third man. But the bounce gets big on him and he ends up inside edging it onto the pads. The ball then rolls wide of the stumps. |
| 9.5 : K Richardson to B Azam, Stays on the back foot and blocks it safely. |
| 9.6 : K Richardson to B Azam, FOUR! 50 up for Pakistan! Wrong line from Kane Richardson. It's sliding down the leg side and Babar just helps it on its way to the fine leg fence. Once again an over where at least one boundary has come. Australia were 56/0 at this stage, quite close at the moment! |
| Powerplay 2 begins! 4 fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle till the 40th over. Will Finch make those changes though? Australia will want more and more wickets. |
| 10.1 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Fuller length ball on off, it's bunted down to mid off for a run. 50-run stand comes up! |
| 10.2 : N Coulter-Nile to B Azam, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 10.3 : N Coulter-Nile to B Azam, FOUR! Gorgeous! Coulter-Nile goes full and on middle, Babar covers the line well and caresses it straight down the ground for a boundary. You just cannot take your eyes off from this batsman. Class! |
| 10.4 : N Coulter-Nile to B Azam, Lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 10.5 : N Coulter-Nile to B Azam, OUT! Babar Azam is Coulter-Nile's 50th ODI wicket. Massive breakthrough for Australia. A short delivery has done the trick here. Rising onto the batsman who takes the chance by wheeling a pull shot. But Babar fails to control it and the ball flies off the top edge to fine leg. Second catch for Kane Richardson and Pakistan have lost their premier batsman. 252 needed off 235 balls. |
| Mohammad Hafeez is the number 4 batsman. Was the Man of The Match in the previous game. |
| 10.6 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. End of a successful over for Australia! |
| Glenn Maxwell is on. |
| 11.1 : G Maxwell to Imam, Flatter and shorter outside off, Imam runs it down towards short third man where the fielder makes a diving stop. Cannot prevent the single though. |
| 11.2 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, Floated and full on middle, Hafeez flicks it with the spin through square leg for a single. |
| 11.3 : G Maxwell to Imam, Loopy and full on off, Imam drives it a bit uppishly but it goes safely to covers. |
| 11.4 : G Maxwell to Imam, Stretches out for a delivery outside off and pushes it to point. |
| 11.5 : G Maxwell to Imam, Presses forward to a full ball and pushes it defensively through covers for one. |
| 11.6 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, Drags his length short on off, Hafeez pulls it behind square leg for one. |
| 12.1 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Fullish and on middle, shaping in, Hafeez covers the line and pushes it out to mid on. |
| 12.2 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Play and a miss! Back of a length delivery outside off, Hafeez flashes and misses. |
| 12.3 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Brings a length ball back into the batsman from outside off, Hafeez stays back in defense to the off side. |
| 12.4 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Movement and bounce. Good length ball on off, jumping onto the batsman, Hafeez gets into a tangle and somehow keeps it out from the inner edge towards square leg. They cross after that. |
| 12.5 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Short in length and outside off, Imam cracks it from the back foot through the gap between backward point and point for a run. The third man fielder is quite square. |
| 12.6 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, This one stays a little low outside off, Hafeez pushes at it and the ball beats his bat. Tidy over by NCN! |
| 13.1 : G Maxwell to Imam, Turns it off his pads through square leg for one. |
| 13.2 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, Full and floated outside off, Hafeez drives it square of the wicket on the off side for one. |
| 13.3 : G Maxwell to Imam, Presses forward to a full ball and pushes it out softly to cover-point. |
| 13.4 : G Maxwell to Imam, Direct hit but safe! Quicker one on off, short in length, Imam plays it late towards backward point and takes a sharp single. The fielder scores a direct hit but Hafeez is safely in before that. |
| 13.5 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, Shortish and outside off, Hafeez this time plays it late towards short third man. The non-striker first calls for a run but then stutters. No harm done. |
| 13.6 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, FOUR! What a shot! Tossed up ball around off, Hafeez dances down the track and thumps his inside-out shot over extra cover for a glorious boundary. |
| 14.1 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Drifting down the leg side, Imam tucks it down to fine leg for one. |
| 14.2 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Short in length on off, Hafeez help-pulls it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. |
| 14.3 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 14.4 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Lands it on a length outside off, shaping away, Hafeez reaches out for it and guides it down to third man for a run. |
| 14.5 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Too full in length outside off, Imam drives it through covers and takes one. |
| 14.6 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Beauty! An away swinger close to off stump, Hafeez has to play the trajectory but he gets beaten for movement. |
| 15.1 : G Maxwell to Imam, Loopy and full on off, Imam gets on the front foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 15.2 : G Maxwell to Imam, Identical to the last delivery, this time Imam opens the face of his bat and pushes it to point. |
| 15.3 : G Maxwell to Imam, Three dots now. Short and on off, Imam goes back to cut but finds the point fielder. |
| 15.4 : G Maxwell to Imam, Fuller and on off, Imam drives it through cover-point for one. |
| 15.5 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, Allows the ball to spin back in from around off and then plays it down to backward point. |
| 15.6 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, Too full and on off, Hafeez drives it down to long off for a run. A good comeback over from Maxwell, only 2 from it. |
| Kane Richardson is back on. |
| 16.1 : K Richardson to M Hafeez, Starts with a back of a length ball on off, Hafeez gets on top of the bounce and plays it out towards mid off for a run. |
| 16.2 : K Richardson to Imam, Drops it down with soft hands towards mid on and scampers across for another single. |
| 16.3 : K Richardson to M Hafeez, FOUR! Beautifully played! Professor showing how it's done. A cracking cover drive off the front foot by him, he finds the gap and the rest is history. |
| 16.4 : K Richardson to M Hafeez, Good length ball on off, Hafeez offers the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 16.5 : K Richardson to M Hafeez, Shortish and on off, Hafeez strokes it from the back foot but the point fielder stretches to his left to stop the ball on one bounce. |
| 16.6 : K Richardson to M Hafeez, Back of a length ball on off, Hafeez once again hits it through the line. This time it goes to the right of the point fielder and in the gap. A single to close the over. |
| 17.1 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, A touch short in length outside off, spinning back in, Hafeez moves inside the crease and cuts it through the gap between point and cover-point. Both the fielders chase, Richardson gets there first and the batsmen complete two runs. |
| 17.2 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, FOUR! Hafeez has decided to target Australia's fifth bowler. Good thinking. Full and floated on middle, Hafeez kneels down and slog sweeps it with the spin over square leg. It nearly carries all the way. |
| 17.3 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, SIX! Dismissed! Hafeez gives the charge this time as he anticipated the bowler to fire it in. Makes handsome connection and sends it flying over long on for a biggie. The Pakistani supporters in the crowd are going mad. |
| 17.4 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, Gently plays it off his pads to the on side and picks up a single. |
| 17.5 : G Maxwell to Imam, Walks down the track and drives it through mid off for a run. |
| 17.6 : G Maxwell to M Hafeez, Flighted one on middle, Hafeez plays it out from the pads to the on side. 14 from the over! |
| Drinks break. Pakistan were under pressure initially after losing Fakhar cheaply but then they recovered a bit through the eye-pleasing knock of Babar. Mohammad Hafeez has changed gears at the moment and his knock has pushed Australia on the back foot. Both the batsmen are on identical scores, one a little cautious while the other showing aggressive intent. This partnership has eaten out 41 runs from the chase and the Asian team will hope that they increase their appetite and eat out more from t |
| 18.1 : K Richardson to Imam, Shortish and on middle, Imam helps it towards square leg and takes a single. |
| 18.2 : K Richardson to M Hafeez, Hafeez has played it to the point region. One run added to the total. |
| 18.3 : K Richardson to Imam, 100 up for Pakistan and it's met with a huge cheer from the crowd! Good length ball outside off, Imam runs it down to third man for one. |
| 18.4 : K Richardson to M Hafeez, Fractionally short and on off, Hafeez gets on his toes and tickles it in front of square leg for a run. |
| 18.5 : K Richardson to Imam, FOUR! The sweeper could have done better there. Short in length outside off, Imam crunches it off his back foot through cover-point and the ball races away. Cummins in the deep is slow off the blocks, tries his best to keep it out with a dive but fails. |
| 18.6 : K Richardson to Imam, Wide! Going down the leg side, short in length, Imam tries pulling but misses. 50-run stand comes up! |
| K Richardson to Imam, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. One run added to the total. 10 from the over after the mini-break. |
| Mitchell Starc is back on. A slip in place. |
| 19.1 : M Starc to Imam, Edgy! Good length ball darted in around off, it straightened a bit probably after landing as Imam pushed inside the line. It took the outside edge and went down to third man for one. |
| 19.2 : M Starc to M Hafeez, Full and straight on middle, Hafeez defends it back. |
| 19.3 : M Starc to M Hafeez, Short in length around off at 139 kph, Hafeez gets on top of the bounce as he stays back footed and pulls it gently over mid-wicket. One run added to the total. |
| 19.4 : M Starc to Imam, Pitches it up and on off, Imam drives it down to mid off. A slight misfield but no run conceded. |
| 19.5 : M Starc to Imam, Wide! Back of a length delivery angling down the leg side, Imam tries his best to get some bat onto it but misses. The crowd enjoyed that. |
| M Starc to Imam, Bouncer this time, around leg, Imam sits underneath it at the last moment. |
| 19.6 : M Starc to Imam, Too full in length on middle at 144 kph, Imam brings down a straight bat and pushes it to mid on. |
| Nathan Coulter-Nile is back on. |
| 20.1 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Direct hit but safe! Good length delivery on off, Hafeez taps it down to the left of point and crosses for a quick run. Maxwell pounces onto the ball and scores a direct hit at the striker's end but Imam is safely in. |
| 20.2 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Wide! Sees the charge from the batsman and bowls it down the leg side. Imam tries flicking but misses. That was close to his pads but the umpire feels that it's still a wide. |
| N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Works it off his pads behind square leg and collects a single. Imam wants the second run, turns for it but then slips. |
| 20.3 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 20.4 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Good length ball on off, defended off the back foot. |
| 20.5 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Shortish and on off, blocked again from the back foot. |
| 20.6 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Wide! Coulter-Nile delivers an outswinger but the line is too wide outside off. Hafeez flirts with it and misses. |
| N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Width on offer outside off, Hafeez opens the face of his bat to run it down to third man. Maxwell from backward point anticipates it, makes his move to his left but fails to stop the ball. The batsmen cross. |
| 21.1 : M Starc to M Hafeez, Short in length around leg, Hafeez plays a pull shot without much intent towards deep backward square leg. They pick up a single. |
| 21.2 : M Starc to Imam, Good length ball on off, Imam gets on top of the bounce and defends it down. |
| 21.3 : M Starc to Imam, FOUR! Put away with ease! Starc delivers a short ball around off, Imam stands tall inside the crease and slaps it past the right side of the point fielder for a boundary. |
| 21.4 : M Starc to Imam, Spears in a very full ball on middle at 146 kph, Imam leans forward and across before flicking it to mid-wicket. |
| 21.5 : M Starc to Imam, Back of a length delivery outside off, at 141 kph, Imam uses the pace of the bowler and eases it down to third man for one. |
| 21.6 : M Starc to M Hafeez, Bangs in a bouncer around leg, Hafeez ducks at the last moment. Not a wide for height. |
| 22.1 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Fullish and on off, Imam pushes it to mid off and steals a quick run as the fielder misses his shy at the bowler's end. |
| 22.2 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Short delivery on off, Hafeez pulls it in front of square leg for one. |
| 22.3 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Angling away from the batsman outside off, Imam stays back and guides it to third man for a run. |
| 22.4 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 22.5 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Driven through mid on by the batsman. Two runs added to the total. |
| 22.6 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Good length ball on off, angling in, Hafeez stays back and pushes it to mid on. 19 runs in the last four overs, Australia trying to choke the flow of runs if the wickets aren't coming. |
| Pat Cummins is back on. |
| 23.1 : Pat Cummins to Imam, Beaten! Good length ball around off, angling away, Imam stays back to push inside the line but misses. |
| 23.2 : Pat Cummins to Imam, Shortish around leg, Imam glances it behind square leg and rotates the strike. |
| 23.3 : Pat Cummins to M Hafeez, Short again, outside off, Hafeez goes on his toes and hits it square of the wicket on the off side for one. |
| 23.4 : Pat Cummins to Imam, Beaten completely! Shortish and close to the off stump line, too close to cut but Imam still wants to play that shot. Ends up missing the ball completely. Some sound there but it maybe due to the bat hitting the back pad. |
| 23.5 : Pat Cummins to Imam, Shortish on off, Imam solidly gets behind the line in defense. |
| 23.6 : Pat Cummins to Imam, A cracking shot back to the bowler who does well in his followthrough to stop the ball. Tidy over again from Australia, just 2 coming from it. The stand moves to 72 and the RRR is inching closer to 7 now. |
| Our thoughts - Australia clearly seem to be struggling with their bowling options. Should they have gone in for Jason Behrendorff instead of Kane Richardson? Rico has this tendency to pick up wickets but also go for runs. On the other hand, that left-arm angle of Behrendorff would have been a surprise element for Pakistan. |
| 24.1 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, A sharp bouncer around off, Hafeez pulls out at the last moment. |
| 24.2 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Valiant stop in the deep by Pat Cummins! Good length delivery outside off, moving away at 134 kph, Hafeez throws his bat at it and edges it past first slip to third man. It races away and so does Cummins to his left. He puts in a full length dive to keep it out. |
| 24.3 : N Coulter-Nile to M Hafeez, Width on offer outside off, Hafeez glides it to third man for one. |
| 24.4 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, A touch short and on off, Imam tries to run it down but misses. |
| 24.5 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, FOUR! Superb use of the footwork by Imam to bring his 6th ODI fifty! Coulter-Nile delivers it around off, Imam wears his skaters and hammers it over mid off for a boundary. |
| 24.6 : N Coulter-Nile to Imam, Short in length and on middle, pulled behind square leg for one. 8 from the over, Pakistan going on strongly! |
| 25.1 : Pat Cummins to Imam, OUT! Caught down the leg side! Half century and gone for Imam. He just stands there, takes a moment for himself and then trudges off. Another wicket off a loose delivery. It is a nothing shot to a short ball down the leg side. Imam looks to pull but only manages to glove it to the keeper behind. Carey collects and appeals jubilantly and the umpire raises his finger! The 80-run stand is broken and Pakistan now need 172 from 149 balls. On the flip side, Pakistan may not |
| 0.0 : Skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed walks in at number 5, replacing Imam. |
| 25.2 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Good length delivery on off, moving back in, Sarfaraz does well to work it through square leg for one. He is off the mark! |
| 25.3 : Pat Cummins to M Hafeez, Nicely done. It's on a length and outside off, Hafeez opens the face of his bat and helps it to third man for a run. |
| 25.4 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Pushed to the cover-point region by the batsman. |
| 25.5 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Bouncer! The batsman ducks under the bouncer at the last moment. |
| 25.6 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Edged but safe! On a length and outside off, Ahmed tries to force it through the line but gets a thick outside edge. It goes just wide of the strategically placed gully for a run down to third man. |
| Aaron Finch brings himself on to bowl. |
| 26.1 : A Finch to S Ahmed, FOUR! Welcome into the attack! Full and around off, Sarfaraz gets down and sweeps it behind square leg for a boundary! |
| 26.2 : A Finch to S Ahmed, STUMPING CHANCE, MISSED! Carey fumbles and that gives Sarfaraz a life. Ahmed backs a long way down the leg side and Finch follows him. Sarfaraz looks to work it to the leg side but misses. His right leg is in the air but at that time, Carey fumbles and Ahmed gets back in. |
| 26.3 : A Finch to S Ahmed, Works it through the leg side for a run. |
| 26.4 : A Finch to M Hafeez, Outside off, pushed through point for one more. |
| 26.5 : A Finch to S Ahmed, Short and outside off, pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single. |
| 26.6 : A Finch to M Hafeez, OUT! Caught! Off a full toss. Would you believe it? A freebie from Finch, Hafeez kneels and plays the slog sweep. But it is straight to deep mid-wicket where Mitchell Starc takes it with ease! Two wickets in two overs for Australia. |
| Shoaib Malik is the new batsman. |
| 27.1 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Direct hit would have been curtains for Shoaib Malik! Tossed up ball on off, Sarfaraz pushes it from the front foot to covers and scoots to the other end. Warner attacks the ball and has a shy at the striker's end but misses as Malik dives in. Survives. |
| 27.2 : Pat Cummins to S Malik, A yorker in the blockhole, Malik keeps it out at the last moment. |
| 27.3 : Pat Cummins to S Malik, OUT! What an outstanding catch by Carey! You beauty, little boy! Never easy to catch off the inside edge. Cummins serves a good length ball around off and gets it to nip back into the batsman. Malik is taken aback by the movement off the surface, tries to block but it curls back in, kisses the inside edge and flies behind. Carey does well to pick it and then puts in a diving effort to his left to take a cracking one-handed catch. 11 runs, three wickets, this match h |
| Asif Ali is the new batsman. |
| 27.4 : Pat Cummins to A Ali, Good length ball on off, straightening a bit, Ali pushes at it tamely and misses. |
| 27.5 : Pat Cummins to A Ali, Shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 27.6 : Pat Cummins to A Ali, Fullish on off, Asif drives it past the bowler and mid on for a couple of runs. |
| 28.1 : A Finch to S Ahmed, Two wides! Sprays it down the leg side, Sarfaraz leaves it alone and the keeper fails to collect it. The batsmen cross. |
| A Finch to A Ali, Tucks it off his pads to the on side, looks for a run but is sent back. |
| 28.2 : A Finch to A Ali, This time it's flicked away in the gap at mid-wicket for a single. |
| 28.3 : A Finch to S Ahmed, Quicker, flatter and shorter on middle, Ahmed goes deep inside the crease to punch but he fails to beat the fielder at covers. |
| 28.4 : A Finch to S Ahmed, Gets behind the line of the delivery and punches it down to long on for one. |
| 28.5 : A Finch to A Ali, Another back foot punch to a shortish ball and a run is collected from long on. |
| 28.6 : A Finch to S Ahmed, Quicker and on middle, Ahmed strokes it down through mid on for a single. |
| Kane Richardson is back on. 4-0-28-0 so far. |
| 29.1 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, Outside off, flicked through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 29.2 : K Richardson to A Ali, A tad short, punched behind point for a run. |
| 29.3 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, Dropped short, pulled through mid-wicket for a couple. 149 more needed from 123 balls. |
| 29.4 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, Landed on a length outside off, Sarfaraz looks to punch but is too close to the ball. Gets a bottom edge which is taken on the bounce by Carey. |
| 29.5 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, On middle and off, worked through mid-wicket for one more. |
| 29.6 : K Richardson to A Ali, OUT! Edged and taken! The wickets are coming in a procession for Australia. Finally a decent delivery to get a wicket. It is on a length outside off and Asif looks to run it down towards third man. But the delivery is a cross-seam one and that perhaps generates extra bounce. Ali is clearly surprised and ends up fending it behind. Carey completes the formalities. 136/2 at one stage, 160/6 now. |
| Hassan Ali walks in now. This is a really lonngggggggggggggggggg tail for Pakistan. Glenn Maxwell returns too. 4-0-27-0 so far. |
| 30.1 : G Maxwell to H Ali, Wide! Turning down the leg side, the batsman tries flicking but misses. |
| G Maxwell to S Ahmed, Allows the ball to spin back in from outside off and then plays it square of the wicket on the off side for a single. |
| 30.2 : G Maxwell to H Ali, Flatter off spinner on middle, fuller in length, Hassan gets forward to defend but it takes the inner half and rolls to square leg for a run. |
| 30.3 : G Maxwell to S Ahmed, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 30.4 : G Maxwell to H Ali, On middle and leg, helped on the leg side but straight to the fielder. |
| 30.5 : G Maxwell to H Ali, FOUR! Edgy! Shortish and on off, Hassan moves back to to cut but it takes a thick outside edge and goes through the vacant first slip region. Warner chases it from short third man but the ball wins the race. |
| 30.6 : G Maxwell to H Ali, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 31.1 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, A bit uppish! Good length ball on middle, Ahmed pushes it back a bit aerially but it doesn't carry back to the bowler. |
| 31.2 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 31.3 : K Richardson to H Ali, Wide! Slips a length ball down the leg side, Hassan tries to flick but misses. |
| K Richardson to H Ali, A back foot defense to the off side by Ali. |
| 31.4 : K Richardson to H Ali, SIX! This one has gone the distance! Richardson digs in a short ball outside off, Hassan hooks it with all his power and clears mid-wicket with ease. |
| 31.5 : K Richardson to H Ali, SIX! And again! This time Richardson alters his length to go full and delivers it on middle. Hassan clears his front leg and muscles it over wide long on for a biggie. |
| 31.6 : K Richardson to H Ali, Play and a miss! In the channel outside off, Hassan winds up for a big shot once more but fails to connect. |
| 32.1 : G Maxwell to S Ahmed, Jumps out of the crease to a full ball, tries to flick but misses. Good that his pads came in the way. |
| 32.2 : G Maxwell to S Ahmed, A long hop on middle, pulled behind square leg for one. |
| 32.3 : G Maxwell to H Ali, Flatter and shorter on middle, Hassan punches it with all his power but finds the cover fielder. |
| 32.4 : G Maxwell to H Ali, SIX! Hassan is connecting his big shots quite well. Maxwell drops it short on middle, Ali goes deep inside the crease and thwacks it over long on. |
| 32.5 : G Maxwell to H Ali, Advances down the track to a full ball and drills his drive to long on for a run. |
| 32.6 : G Maxwell to S Ahmed, Pushed to the cover region by the batsman. One run added to the total. 9 from this over! |
| Drinks break. A big collapse has left Pakistan reeling here. Hassan Ali is trying to stage a comeback by playing some big shots but the task in hand is way too large. The Pakistan skipper is still out there but he will need support from the tail which is quite long. Australia have two more overs to go from their part-timers and the green team would like to target those. 117 needed off 102 balls. |
| 33.1 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, Shortish and on middle, Sarfaraz quietly drops it towards mid on and crosses for a quick run. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end but misses. |
| 33.2 : K Richardson to H Ali, Play and a miss! Short and wide outside off, Hassan swings his bat at it but fails to connect. |
| 33.3 : K Richardson to H Ali, FOUR! This one is pure timing and placement. Full in length and outside off, Ali brings out the cover drive that will make even a top order batsman proud. |
| 33.4 : K Richardson to H Ali, FOUR! Slapped away! Richardson digs in a short ball outside off, Hassan rocks back and spanks it down to deep cover for a boundary. Rico is looking clueless. 200 up for Pakistan. |
| 33.5 : K Richardson to H Ali, OUT! Boom - Kane has the last laugh! Party over for Hassan Ali! Richardson bangs in a short ball again, it's around off and Hassan this time tries to play the cross-batted shot. But it takes the bottom half of his bat and flies down to Khawaja at fine leg. He makes no mistake and Pakistan lose their 7th wicket. End of an entertaining cameo from Ali but that's not enough. |
| Wahab Riaz is in next. |
| 33.6 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, Fullish and outside off, Ahmed drives it off his front foot to covers. |
| Mitchell Starc is back on. 5-1-25-0 so far. |
| 34.1 : M Starc to W Riaz, Outside off, eased through cover for a single. |
| 34.2 : M Starc to S Ahmed, Full on middle and leg, flicked through mid-wicket for a couple. |
| 34.3 : M Starc to S Ahmed, A short ball, pulled through mid-wicket for a single. |
| 34.4 : M Starc to W Riaz, Around off, Riaz hops and defends solidly. |
| 34.5 : M Starc to W Riaz, A good short ball, at the body, Riaz takes his eyes off the ball and awkwardly fends it to the leg side. Luckily for him, there is no short leg and the batsmen take a single. |
| 34.6 : M Starc to S Ahmed, Full and outside off, pushed towards the off side. |
| Pat Cummins returns. 7-0-26-3 so far. |
| 35.1 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, Full and on middle, Riaz covers the line and defends it down to mid on. |
| 35.2 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, Shortish around leg, jumping onto the batsman, Wahab jumps to deal with it but misses and takes a blow near his rib cage. |
| 35.3 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, Connects well with his shot but fails to beat the cover-point fielder. Fuller and outside off, Wahab drives firmly but for no run. |
| 35.4 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, A rising delivery around leg, Riaz taps it down towards square leg for a single. |
| 35.5 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Width on offer outside off, Sarfaraz steers it wide of backward point for a run as the third man fielder cuts it off. |
| 35.6 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, Back of a length ball on off, Wahab pushes it with an angled bat but straight to Maxwell at point. |
| 36.1 : M Starc to S Ahmed, Short in length outside off, leaving the batsman with the angle, Sarfaraz guides it down to third man and takes a single. |
| 36.2 : M Starc to W Riaz, Targets the batsman's body with a sharp short ball, Wahab awkwardly keeps it out on the leg side. Should keep a short leg for this line and length. |
| 36.3 : M Starc to W Riaz, Bangs it in short around off, Wahab jumps on his back foot and defends it to the off side. |
| 36.4 : M Starc to W Riaz, FOUR! Just wide of Steven Smith at wide first slip! Starc goes very full this time, around off and angling away, Riaz tries to play a booming cover drive but it takes the thick outside edge and flies past Smith's right for a boundary. |
| 36.5 : M Starc to W Riaz, Wahav has pushed it to the cover region. They pick up a single. |
| 36.6 : M Starc to S Ahmed, The batsman works it down the leg side. They pick up a single. |
| 37.1 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Spears in a fuller length ball on off, Sarfaraz tries to play it back but it takes the inside edge and hits him onto the pads. |
| 37.2 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, The batsman has flicked the ball off his pads. One run added to the total. |
| 37.3 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, Digs in a short ball around leg, Wahab fends it away behind square leg and crosses. |
| 37.4 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Nearly rolls back onto the stumps. On a length around off, Ahmed gets across to block but it takes the bottom half of his willow and rolls behind. |
| 37.5 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Shortish on off, pushed back to the bowler who failed to stop it in his followthrough. They stole a single as the mid off fielder attacked the ball. |
| 37.6 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, Back of a length delivery outside off, Wahab moves across the stumps to play inside the line but misses. |
| Nathan Coulter-Nile is back! |
| 38.1 : N Coulter-Nile to S Ahmed, Starts off with a good length ball on off, Sarfaraz guides it down to third man and takes an easy run. |
| 38.2 : N Coulter-Nile to W Riaz, Slower one and that sticks in the surface. Riaz hops and works it with soft hands towards mid-wicket. Two is the call straightaway and the batters complete it. |
| 38.3 : N Coulter-Nile to W Riaz, Good short one and on the body of the batsman, Riaz somehow nudges it to the leg side and takes one. |
| 38.4 : N Coulter-Nile to S Ahmed, On the stumps, Sarfaraz blocks it out. |
| 38.5 : N Coulter-Nile to S Ahmed, Good running! Length and around off, SA looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads. The ball rolls beside the pitch and the batsmen take one. |
| 38.6 : N Coulter-Nile to W Riaz, SIX! That has been nailed! 11 from the over. 80 needed in 66. Short and on the body, Riaz maybe was ready for it this time. He goes back and powers it over the square leg fence. |
| 39.1 : Pat Cummins to S Ahmed, Edgy run! Length and around off, Sarfaraz look to run it down to third man, it goes off the outside edge down towards third man for one. |
| 39.2 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, On the stumps, Wahab gets right behind the line and keeps it out. Playing with responsibility is the pacer. Needs to hang in there with his skipper. |
| 39.3 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, Once again, gets right behind the line and defends it onto the ground. Clever batting, knows it is Cummins' last over and he may have decided to play him out. |
| 39.4 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, Bangs it short and down the leg side, Wahab looks to work it on the leg side but misses. It is the slower one. Not wided. Replays confirm that it has hit the gloves on its way. Good decision. |
| 39.5 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, Good length on off, Wahab defends it out. |
| 39.6 : Pat Cummins to W Riaz, A loud cheer as Riaz plays Cummins out. He works the last ball towards mid on and takes one. End of Cummins for tonight. Top spell by him again. His figures read 10-0-33-3. |
| Powerplay 3 to get underway now! A maximum of 5 fielders can be put outside the ring till the end. 78 needed more off the last 10 overs. Three wickets left. |
| 40.1 : G Maxwell to W Riaz, FOUR! Inside edge and that just goes past the off pole. So the intentions are clear. Go after the offie. Maxwell fires it outside off. Wahab swings across the line, the ball just about kisses the off pole. Goes to the fine leg fence. |
| 40.2 : G Maxwell to W Riaz, SIX! Take that says Wahab! That is right off the middle. Very full and Wahab whips it easily over the long on fence. 10 from the first two balls. Pakistan not going down without a fight. |
| 40.3 : G Maxwell to W Riaz, Excellent stop! Saves three for his side. Riaz goes for the slog sweep. Does not hit it right off the middle. It still seems to be going to the mid-wicket fence but Coulter-Nile runs to his right, jumps, keeps both his legs in the air and pushes it back in. |
| 40.4 : G Maxwell to S Ahmed, Ahmed smartly goes back and pushes it down to long off for one. |
| 40.5 : G Maxwell to W Riaz, Straight down the ground. Not timed nicely though but a single taken. |
| 40.6 : G Maxwell to S Ahmed, Once again smart batting by Ahmed. He eases it down to long on for one. 14 came from the over. 64 needed in the last 9. |
| 41.1 : N Coulter-Nile to S Ahmed, On a good length outside off, Ahmed dabs it down to third man for a run. |
| 41.2 : N Coulter-Nile to W Riaz, Shortish and on off, Wahab rocks back to pummel it on the leg side but it takes the lower half of his bat and goes towards covers. |
| 41.3 : N Coulter-Nile to W Riaz, SIX! Wahab Riaz is doing it here for Pakistan. He picks up the slower one early and slogs it handsomely over mid-wicket for a biggie. 50-run stand comes up, 250 up for Pakistan as well! |
| 41.4 : N Coulter-Nile to W Riaz, Back of a length ball on off, Wahab gets back and plays it in the gap in front of square leg for one. |
| 41.5 : N Coulter-Nile to S Ahmed, On middle and leg, Sarfaraz smartly glances it behind square leg and rotates the strike. The skipper is showing great maturity. |
| 41.6 : N Coulter-Nile to W Riaz, Played to the point region by the batsman. They pick up a single. 24 in the last two overs, 54 needed off 48 balls. Game on? |
| Mitchell Starc is back on! Finch has gone to his strike bowler. They need to break this stand. |
| 42.1 : M Starc to W Riaz, BEATEN! Full and angles it away from off. Wahab looks to put bat on ball but misses. |
| 42.2 : M Starc to W Riaz, Nicely played! This is worked through square leg and gets off strike. |
| 42.3 : M Starc to S Ahmed, Good length and on off, Sarfaraz guides it down to third man and takes one. |
| 42.4 : M Starc to W Riaz, Back of a length and on the stumps from around the wicket. Wahab blocks it down onto the ground. |
| 42.5 : M Starc to W Riaz, Good bumper! It is on off, Wahab hops and tries to fend at it but at the very end bails out. |
| Our thoughts - How will Australia finish their 5th bowler's quota? They still have one over left. Will Finch gamble with himself or Maxwell right in the very last over? Or will he give one right now and leave it to his main bowlers in the remaining six? |
| 42.6 : M Starc to W Riaz, Starc's over comes to an end! Three runs from it. A good one for Pakistan as they did not lose a wicket. 51 needed in 42. Full and on the pads, Riaz works it towards fine leg and keeps strike. |
| Kane Richardson comes back into the attack! He has a knack of picking important wickets. Australia need one here. |
| 43.1 : K Richardson to W Riaz, Good running and even more impressive dive in the end! A full toss to begin with by Kane. Wahab guides it past point. They take one, go for the second. The throw is a loopy one from the deep so Wahab makes in with a dive. |
| 43.2 : K Richardson to W Riaz, Another full toss, Wahab looks to play a cautious stroke. The ball goes off the outside edge down to third man for one. |
| 43.3 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, Sarfaraz works it through mid-wicket and gets to the other end. Well played. He need not do anything silly at the moment. |
| 43.4 : K Richardson to W Riaz, Slapped but just for one! Outside off, Wahab hits it through covers and gets to the other end. |
| 43.5 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, A dot! Short and on middle, Sarfaraz looks to pull but mistimes it to mid-wicket. |
| 43.6 : K Richardson to S Ahmed, Well played again! Guides it down to third man and takes one. 6 from the over. |
| 44.1 : M Starc to S Ahmed, Well played! Clears his front leg but Starc bowls it short. Sarfaraz guides it down to third man who is very fine. So only a run. |
| 0.0 : Drama! Australia reckon they have Riaz here. Has he nicked this one? Steve Smith at gully says he is unsure. Finch though thinks for a while and at the last moment, takes the review. Seems to be nothing there in the replays. Wait... Ultra Edge detects a spike! What a masterful review! |
| 44.2 : M Starc to W Riaz, OUT! Caught behind! This could probably be the game-changing review by Australia. Wahab Riaz is out of here. Wicket no. 8 down. Starc delivers when his team needed the most. Back of a length delivery and it lands on off, straightens after pitching. Wahab hangs his bat out. He seems to have missed it. Carey takes it and appeals. The umpire shakes his head. Finch comes running in from mid-wicket or cover, asks Smith but the latter is unsure. Finch waits, waits and waits an |
| Mohammad Amir walks in at number 10, replacing Riaz. This game is not done yet. This bloke can bat too. The runs required are not that much. |
| 44.3 : M Starc to M Amir, WIDE! Goes short first up but down the leg side. Wided. |
| M Starc to M Amir, BEATEN! Quick delivery on off, it skids through. Amir looks to defend but gets beaten. |
| 44.4 : M Starc to M Amir, OUT! BOWLED 'EM! Two in the over for Starc and this is probably the over which completely turns the game in Australia's favour. He goes full but ends up bowling a low full toss. Amir looks to put bat on ball but gets an inside edge which shatters the stumps behind. One wicket away now Australia, Starc have two balls to do it. |
| Shaheen Afridi is the last man in. Will this last pair play a blinder to take Pakistan home? |
| 44.5 : M Starc to S Afridi, Almost! Bowls it on a length and around off, this one shapes in late. Shaheen looks to defend but gets an inside edge towards square leg. |
| 44.6 : M Starc to S Afridi, Plays out the last ball but the interesting thing here is, Sarfaraz takes a single. Full toss on the pads, SA works it through square leg and a single is taken. |
| 45.1 : K Richardson to S Afridi, On the stumps, it is kept out. |
| 45.2 : K Richardson to S Afridi, Full and outside off, Afridi plays inside the line and gets beaten. |
| 45.3 : K Richardson to S Afridi, Short and on middle, Shaheen looks to defend but it goes off the top portion towards mid off. |
| 45.4 : K Richardson to S Afridi, OUT! RUN OUT! Brilliance by Maxwell has given Australia the last wicket. Full and on off, Afridi jams it out towards cover and it goes on one bounce to the fielder inside the ring. Sarfaraz is off for a run but then realizes that Maxwell has jumped and collected the ball with one hand over his head. The Pakistan skipper tries to return but before that the Big Show hits the bull's eye at the non-striker's end. One stump to aim at and boom... Ahmed is well short. Th |
| Phew! What a humdinger. A match which both deserved to lose. In a game where the side committing fewer mistakes comes out on top, Australia have managed to get those crucial points. |
| A match which Australia should have probably won by 150 runs. Because at 223/2 and David Warner going strong, it seemed like they had 400 in sight. But his wicket led to a collapse and Mohammad Amir's 5-fer restricted the Aussies to 'just' 307. |
| Now comes the second innings. Full of drama. Pakistan were cruising at 136/2 in the 26th over, but then slipped to 160/6. At that stage, it looked like game over with Australia surging to a massive win. But two critical stands - 40 for the 7th wicket and 64 for the 8th wicket - got the game very close. However, Starc's double-wicket over in the 45th sealed the deal, just like it did against West Indies. |
| Who is your Man Of The Match? David Warner - for his splendid century? Mohammad Amir - for bringing Pakistan back into the game with a 5-for? Pat Cummins - for keeping Pakistan quiet throughout and picking up the crucial wickets of Imam, Fakhar and Malik? Or eventually, Wahab Riaz - for making a game out of nothing? Well, the presentation is upon us... |
| DAVID WARNER HAS BEEN NAMED THE MAN OF THE MATCH FOR HIS FANTASTIC 107. Warner says, when he got out they had 70 balls to go and they were looking to bat out the 50 overs and be around 340 but adds that Pakistan bowled well and made it really hard for them. States the last game was a used wicket, it was dry and the Indian bowlers gave nothing away. Further adds here he had to adapt as there was movement early on and get on top of the back of the length deliveries. Ends by saying Wahab was very g |
| Sarfaraz Ahmed says that it is very disappointing given that the way Pakistan fought with the ball, they should have won it. Amongst the positives, praises Hassan Ali and Wahab Riaz' innings with the bat. On the negatives, blames his bowlers for conceding too many runs in the first 30 overs but also praises them for coming back in the next 20. Admits that his batsmen got starts but could not convert those and states that if you want to win matches, you need to play a long innings. Is ready to ta |
| Aaron Finch admits that Pakistan certainly tested Australia. On his thought process during that carnage, Finch says that on a small ground like this, if one's execution with the ball is not proper, he will go for runs and that is what happened. Is disappointed that the Aussies could not bat out 50 overs in spite of having an extra batsman in the side and reckons that they ended up 20-30 runs short. But is happy with the 2 points. On the team selection this morning, Aaron says that it was a tough |
| Right then! Australia move to second spot with their third win in 4 games. Pakistan stay in 7th place. Which match comes up next? It is India against New Zealand, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. We hear that the forecast is not that great. Hopefully, we are proved wrong like the one here. Join us on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at 10.30 am local (0930 GMT) for all the action from Game 18. ADIOS! TAKE CARE! |
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