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Cricket World Cup 2015 Quarterfinal Australia v/s Pakistan: Australia thump Pakistan; to meet India in semifinals

Written By Pranav Joshi | Updated: Mar 20, 2015, 04:21 PM IST

Pakistan's poor batting and fielding cost them a semifinal spot.

Pakistan were only in the game for about 10 overs of their bowling, when Wahab Riaz was running riot on Watson. He got far less reward than he deserved. But it was just a poor batting and fielding performance from Pakistan, who were simply too poor to make the last four. This is the tale of Pakistan's World Cup - too poor to compete against the top sides. Their win against South Africa was an aberration - and probably only because South Africa threw it away with wild shots. Australia are looking very dangerous, though not invincible. India await them in the semifinal at Sydney on March 26. Both teams have been in brilliant form and that will be a cracker of a match.

Josh Hazlewood is named the Man of the Match for his 4 wickets.

Over 34

FOUR, Slapped through the off side and it's four, Australia have beaten Pakistan convincingly and reach the semifinals where India await.

Two more needed.

Slower ball, and Maxwell runs one hard after playing the ball to square leg, but no scope for the second.

SIX! Full outside off and Maxwell creams it over deep extra cover for six. Brute force, maximum result.

On leg stump, flicked to fine leg for two and the Pakistani fans boo their own team very loudly.

Sohail Khan comes back for his own team's last rites at this World Cup.

Over 33

Watson ducks as Riaz sends him another bouncer. Australia 203/4 after 33 overs.

FOUR. Poor ball, down leg, and flicked for four. This is a precipitous anti-climax for Riaz. Spirit broken. Australia cross 200.

SIX! Short again from Riaz, Watson pulls hard over midwicket for six. Perfect timing.

Over 32

SIX! Short ball, pulled over long leg for six. Australia are wining this match very fast now. 193/4 after 32 overs.

FOUR. Too short, too wide, too much of normal speed and smashed over extra cover by Maxwell.

Fifty up for Watson off a single through the on side. He's struggled a lot and been awarded this fifty by Pakistan's fielders.

Over 31

Two runs through the off side, Australia 182/4 after 31 overs.

Wide ball. Short but too wide outside leg for Maxwell to connect.

Short ball, Maxwell tries his special shot again, misses.

Just 35 more needed now. This match is over unless Australia have a dramatic collapse.

FOUR. Crazy shot. Banged in, too fast for Maxwell, who attempts to give room and slam it into the ground. Ball flies off the edge through cover point and into the boundary.

FOUR. Maxwell flicks Wahab through midwicket for four.

Over 29

Single off the last ball, Australia 160/4.

DROPPED! Terrific short ball, Maxwell has no time at all to negotiate it, he takes his eyes off and hangs the bat in the air, plays it awkwardly, ball flies upwards towards third man and Sohail Khan drops it!!!

Watson plays a short ball into the off side for one.

Wahab Riaz is back. Last throw of the dice for Pakistan. Can he get two wickets?

Over 28

FOUR. Straight drive, fast as a bullet, no chance for any fielder. 153/4.

Hit on the thigh, ball swung away and Maxwell played down the wrong line.

Big appeal, bat hits the ground as Maxwell misses the drive to a yorker length outside off stump, Pakistan appeal. Not given and they decide not to review.

Rahat Ali comes back, bowls two dot balls.

Over 27

Good line, on off stump coming back in, and Watson defends. 149/4. 

Glenn Maxwell is in, is it boom boom time?

OUT! Ehsan Adil has got Steve Smith LBW! Pitched on a length and moved in, Smith missed with the flick. Pakistan went up and the umpire acceded.

Watson drives but good stop at point.

Ehsan Adil comes on, he's been underused. Just two overs.

Over 26

Down the ground again, Afridi shortens the length and Smith defends in haste. Good ball. Australia 146/3 after 26 overs.

FOUR. Smith advances and lofts Afridi over wide mid on, for four. Just bounced inside the boundary.

Over 25

Australia 139/3 after 25 overs.

Now, Australia are just content to milk the Pakistan bowling. None of the bowlers seem to have the pace or guile to trouble them as Wahab Riaz did.

Over 24

Nine runs off the over, expensive one from Afridi. 135/3 after 24 overs.

Flicked to long leg for two runs.

Watson smashes Afridi into the deep for one.

Over 22

Yorker, dug out to the on side for no run. Australia 123/2 after 22 overs.

FOUR. Short again, but not a good short ball. Into the ribs and swivel pulled for four.

Second wide ball of the over for height. 

Another short ball, called a wide this time.

FOUR. Sohail Khan is not Wahab Riaz and he shows it. Short ball, sits up outside off and Watson slams it for four through midwicket.

Over 21

Australia 112/3 after 21 overs.

FOUR. Brilliant cover drive from Steve Smith sees him get to a half-century off 51 balls.

Rahat Ali comes in to bowl, villain of the dropped catch.

Over 19

Fot ball to finish the over, Australia 98/3 after 19.

Two runs as Watson manages to fend it into the on side.

Another short ball, another wide called.

Change of length, full ball and Watson defends. 

Too short this time, called a no ball by the umpire.

Another short ball, Watson fends again and it falls short of short leg.

Smith calmly runs down a single to sweeper cover, but it gets Watson on strike.

Wahab Riaz to continue. 6th over.

Over 18

Another short ball, almost a wide for height, Watson leaves. Australia 93/3 after 18 overs.

Short, late swing and Watson pulls out of the pull shot at the last moment.

FOUR. Short ball, sits up and Watson pulls it with authority for four. Big cheer from the crowd.

Sohail Khan has been brought back.

Over 17

Single to long leg, Australia 87/3 after 17 overs

Classic great fast bowling. Perfect fast short ball, Watson takes his eyes off and fends, ball hits the bat handle and loops up but falls short of short leg.

Short ball, wide outside leg. Called wide.

DROPPED! What a terrible drop! Short ball from Riaz, deadly pace, Watson compulsively hooks to long leg, the fielder drops a really, really easy catch. Rahat Ali was the guilty party.

Over 16

Two runs off the last ball as Afridi strays on leg. Australia 83/3 after 16 overs.

The last over from Wahab Riaz really terrorised Shane Watson. He was nearly out on at least two occasions.

FOUR. Down the track and Smith drives through the on side for four. Big pressure release shot.

Over 14

Last ball is defended by Watson, Australia 72/3 after 14 overs

Watson slams the ball to deep midwicket for one.

Now a leg slip is in place.

Steve Smith inside edges to short fine leg for one.

Shahid Afridi comes into the attack.

Over 13

RIPPER. Absolute crunching short ball, nearly got Watson in the throat. He ducks out of the way at the last moment, but this is Pakistan at its best. Australia 67/3 after 13 overs.

Another short ball, just on leg stump, Watson ducks again and looks at the square leg umpire. No wide.

Hostile fast ball from Wahab Riaz, short and Watson ducks. Watson is in a hole here

Over 12

Single to the on side, Australia 66/3 after 12 overs.

FOUR. Well driven, through the extra cover gap and into the boundary. Big relief

Rahat Ali squares Watson up with a short ball, but the ball lands safely.

Over 11

Great over, Australia 59/3.

Searing short ball to Shane Watson, he ducks and Wahab gives him a few words.

OUT! Superb short ball from Wahab Riaz, and Clarke fends to short leg! Australia lose their third wicket!

Short ball, into the body, dabbed away for one by Smith.

Over 9

Australia 52/2 after 9 overs.

Flicked from middle into the on side for two.

Captain Michael Clarke has come out to the middle.

OUT! Warner has slapped Wahab Riaz straight to third man! Short and rising outside off, Warner goes after it and third man bends low to take a good catch forward. 49/2.

Over 8

Driven through the covers, Australia get two, 44/1 after 8 overs.

Two runs off five balls so far.

The Australian run rate is already close to 6 per over.

Over 7

Single to square leg. Australia 40/1 after 7 overs.

FOUR. Driven through the off side, there was little swing outside off and Smith just drove on the up.

Slower ball from Khan, Smith tries to pull but gets no power on the shot.

Over 6

Driven through the on side this time, the fielder has to dive to stop the boundary. Three runs. Australia 35/1 after 6.

FOUR. It's Smith this time, full outside off and Smith drives beautifully through covers. Good hands.

On leg stump, tucked away for one.

FOUR. Short outside off and Warner heaves it over cover, gets it well enough in the meat to hit it for four.

Bowling change, Rahat Ali comes on.

Over 4

Crashed off the backfoot, straight to Umar Akmal at short cover, who GLARES at Warner. Australia 17/1 after 4 overs.

Beautifully placed between point and cover, the fielder slides near the ropes to save two.

Warner drives to short cover, can't find the gap.

Pakistan with a slight spring in their steps now after the first wicket.

Over 3

Shuffles outside off, defends it to the leg side. Australia 15/1 after 3 overs.

Steve Smith is the new batsman.

OUT! Perfect in cutter, Finch misses the late, slight swing, raps him flush on the front pad, and the umpire raises his finger. Australia review, and it's a wasted review. Ball was crashing onto middle and leg.

Better line, just outside off and Finch has to defend it down the pitch after an initial shimmy.

Driven through covers, two runs for the taking.

Over 2

Australia 13/0 after 2 overs.

Too wide again, good driving line, but Warner finds short cover with precision.

Punched through the off side but straight to mid on.

FOUR. Full, wide, and Warner goes after it, gets an edge over second slip for four.

On middle and leg, and driven through wide mid on for two.

Over 1

Good last ball, Australia 7/0 after 1 over.

Big shout from Pakistan, the ball pitches on off and jags back, Finch is hit above the knee roll. Pakistan decide not to review it.

Driven straight down the ground this time, Pakistan chasing leather already. Three more.

FOUR. Placed well through cover, and Misbah dives but can't stop it. Four.

Warner inside-edges the second ball onto his pad.

Sohail Khan to bowl the first over.

Aaron Finch and David Warner come out to the middle.

Poor batting performance from Pakistan. This pitch was not at all deadly. It was quite easy paced and the grass didn't help the bowlers much after about 10 overs. Pakistan are about 70 runs short. Too short, in short. Australia are heavy favourites to win this one and reach the semifinals.

Over 50

OUT! Very short, throat high, Adil goes for the big heave again, and holes out to fine leg. Pakistan all out for 213 in 49.5 overs.

Gives room, swings a near-yorker down the ground, miscues, but the ball lands safely between two fielders. Two runs.

Great ball, short and stomach height, very fast. Adil was cut in half and the ball was through before he'd played the shot.

FOUR. Pitched up, Ehsan Adil goes straight down the ground for four.

Short, batsman swings across the line and inside edged for one.

Last over of the innings, Faulkner to bowl.

Over 48

In the air, lands safely. Pakistan 205/9 after 48 overs.

Swing and a miss. Wild tailender's pull, Rahat Ali was looking to send it into Karachi.

Faulkner continues. Single off the third ball.

Over 47

Another hostile short ball, but a little slower. The batsman jumps and plays it in an ungainly manner to the off side. 203/9 after 47 overs.

Hostile short ball, Ehsan Adil pulls with eyes off the ball, gets one to deep square leg.

Over 46

Single to third man brings up the 200 for Pakistan. Around 100 runs short on this wicket. 

Third ball is edged past point for one. 

Rahat Ali is just swinging and missing the ball now. 

Over 44

OUT! Sohail Khan edges behind to Haddin to make it 9 wickets. He backed away and had a swing at the ball. Poor thinking, poor timing, poor everything. Pakistan 195/9, Hazlewood gets 4 wickets. 

Over 43

Couple through the on side, Pakistan 193/8 after 43 overs.

Yorker outside off, can't get bat on it.

Short ball, hostile, angling in and the batsman takes fright, ducks quickly.

On the stumps, fast and straight, gets two. Sohail Khan is the new batsman.

OUT! Wahab Riaz plays a terrible stroke, swings across the line without conviction, full ball takes the simple edge and caught by the keeper with ease. 188/8.

Over 42

Pakistan 188/7 after 42 overs.

Adil Ehsan is the new batsman, filling in for Mohammad Irfan. Hazlewood tests him with a rising ball outside off and he misses.

OUT! Full ball outside off, smacked straight to cover point. Maqsood is gone as well. Pakistan 188/7.

Shoaib Maqsood walks across the stumps and tries to deposit Hazlewood into Lahore. 

Over 41

Single off the last ball makes it 6 off the over. 188/6 after 41 overs.

Fast, short, angling in, brutal bouncer, and Riaz ducks. He took his eyes off as well.

FOUR. Picked over wide mid on, ugly shot but effective. He gave room and slugged a full ball over wide mid on.

Yorker outside off, but too wide from Starc and called wide.

Over 40

11 off the over, Pakistan 182/6 after 40 overs.

FOUR overthrows. Wahab dabs a ball to off and runs, point fielder Smith throws it at the non striker's end for no reason, and it goes for four overthrows.

Short, down the track and Faulkner fires it in short, Riaz ducks.

FOUR. Wahab Riaz slogs a full ball from Faulkner down the ground for four. Not in the middle of the bat but he basically tried to take the cover off the ball.

Over 38

Just one off the over, Pakistan 168/6.

Riaz tries to run the ball down to third man, beaten completely.

Faulkner beats Wahab Riaz THREE times outside off stump.

Over 37

Drives outside off, ball shapes away from the body. Pakistan 167/6 after 37 overs.

Driven through covers, unusually poor fielding as ball goes straight through point's fingers, Pakistan get one.

Single down to square leg.

Starc nearly yorks Maqsood, who has no idea whether he's batting at Adelaide, Taunton or Rawalpindi.

Over 36

One off the over, Pakistan 162/6.

Shoaib Maqsood has been inconsequential most of this World Cup. He's just too ordinary to be noticed it seems.

Full ball from Faulkner, almost a yorker and driven to short midwicket.

Compulsory powerplay begins.

Over 34

OUT! Another one falls on the boundary. Short ball, pulled hard and well, but again down the throat of deep midwicket. Afridi is gone. 23 off 15 balls. 158/6 after 34 overs.

Full toss driven down to midwicket for one.

FOUR. Short, pulls hard, and gets a top edge. It almost went for six straight behind the keeper.

Now tries to guide the ball fine, misses again. Could have been out both times.

Afridi with a cross batted swish, misses and the keeper yelps.

Over 33

Maqsood goes for the pull, slow ball bouncer from Johnson, hits Maqsood in the shoulder. Pakistan 151/5 after 33 overs and it's another drinks break.

Cut to third man for one.

Drives from the crease, no feet and misses.

SIX! Afridi blasts hard at a full ball and gets it over extra cover for six.

Over 32

FOUR. Lifted over midwicket for four. Shoaib Maqsood, not Afridi. 143/5 after 32 overs.

Afridi late cuts it down to third man without any feet movement, and gets one.

Hazlewood gets Maqsood to edge but it flies down to third man for two. No slip.

Over 30

FOUR. Down the track, bashed down the ground with power, four more. Pakistan 134/5 after 30 overs.

FOUR. Slashed outside off, over the covers for four.

Boom boom Afridi comes in.

OUT! Long hop from Maxwell, Umar Akmal though pulls it straight down the throat of deep midwicket! Pakistan 124/5.

Over 29

Pushed for two. 5 off the over, Pakistan 124/4 after 29 overs.

FOUR. Beautiful straight drive from Umar Akmal, perfect position and straight as an arrow.  

Full ball, driven hard down the ground but bowler gets a hand to it.

Over 28

Akmal plays and misses off the last ball. Sharp turn. Pakistan 118/4 after 28 overs.

Maxwell continues. Pakistan have undone themselves by playing away from the body.

Over 27

Shoaib Maqsood drives through the covers for two, Pakistan 114/4,  

OUT! Haris Sohail is gone, went for the big booming cover drive, no feet, and safely caught by Haddin. Pakistan lose 4 for 112, another needless dismissal.

Short from Johnson, angling away, and Sohail ducks with elan.

FOUR. Driven straight down the ground for four.

Off the last ball of the last over, Akmal cut Maxwell for four, and Haddin flicked off the bails with his gloves. Australia appealed, Maxwell was convinced it was out. Very shameful.

Over 25

Wide outside off, Umar stretches to out bat to ball and edges to third man for one. Pakistan 102/3 after 25 overs.

Short ball and Akmal ducks.

Umar Akmal plays and misses at a ball just outside off.

Mitchell Johnson is back.

Over 24

Pakistan 101/3 after 24 overs.

Outside edge to get off the mark, two runs to the third man area.

Umar Akmal comes in, ahead of Shoaib Maqsood.

OUT! Glenn Maxwell comes back, Misbah tries to slog sweep him again, and is caught on the boundary rope this time! Good captaincy to bring back Maxwell when Pakistan were under scoring pressure.

Over 23

Just one off the over, Pakistan 95/2 after 23 overs.

Single off the 5th ball, finally.

Three dot balls and run rate falls to 4.

On off stump, and Misbah defends. He's 33 off 55 now.

Over 22

Single off the last ball as well, Pakistan 94/2 after 22 overs.

Short ball outside off, steered down to third man for two.

Slower delivery, full, and Sohail digs it out without much trouble.

Faulkner continues, Pakistan need to accelerate

Over 20

Just two runs from an unthreatening over by an unthreatening bowler in unthreatening conditions. Pakistan 83/2 after 20 overs.

The pitch doesn't look all that threatening really. There was some seam and swing in the morning but it's much more easy paced than Melbourne was yesterday.

James Faulkner is now bowling. One single off the first two balls.

Over 19

Flicked away off the legs for one, Pakistan 81/2 after 19.

Wild heave from Haris Sohail, bad timing, hits the top of the bat, but falls safely in front of wide third man. 

Concedes just one off his first four balls.

Shane Watson introduced into the attack.

Over 18

Pakistan 77/2 after 18 overs.

SIX! Misbah again launches Maxwell into the crowd. This time it's just a slog.

Down the track and Sohail drives through off for one.

Over 16

And he beats Misbah outside off stump with the sixth ball. Pakistan 66/2 after 16 overs.

Good over from Maxwell so far, just one off 5 balls.

Over 15

Pakistan 64/2 after 15 overs as Misbah resumes defence.

Now Misbah gets two to long leg.

Dug in just short outside off and Sohail gets a single to third man

Over 14

SIX! Pitched up on middle and off, Misbah goes downtown and slams it over deep midwicket for six! Pakistan 61/2 after 14 overs.

Three singles off the first four balls.

Glenn Maxwell has been introduced into the attack. First spin proposition.

Over 13

Angled into off stump and Misbah defends. Pakistan 52/2.

Short ball, above head high, Sohail goes hard at it but misses, wide called.

Johnson into his third over. Haris Sohail hit two boundaries off the last over.

Over 11

Pakistan 38/2 after 11 overs.

Short ball and Haris Sohail ducks under it.

Johnson tucks up Misbah who gets a single to short fine leg.

Mitchell Johnson into his second over. Misbah looks distinctly uncomfortable today.

Over 10

End of the over, Pakistan 37/2.

Driven to point, but Sohail can't get it past Warner.

Single down the ground for one.

Big appeal, ball comes in and hits Misbah flush on the pads, but above the knee roll. Not out.

Over 9

Single to end the over, Pakistan 36/2 after 9 overs.

Outside off, late seam movement, and Misbah almost gets a feather on it poking out.

Wide down the leg side. 

Driven to mid on for no run.

FOUR. Inside edge and Misbah gets four. 

Mitchell Johnson comes on to bowl

Over 7

Another short ball, Misbah repeats, maiden over. 26/2 after 7.

Starc bangs it in short, and Misbah sways out of the way well. 151.4 ks.

Misbah chooses to defend the first 3 balls of the over.

Three slips and a gully in place now, typical test match field.

Over 6

Single off the last ball, Pakistan 26/2 after 6 overs.

Australia had a long discussion about it and decided it wasn't worth it.

Oh man. Misbah misses a ball on leg stump, the ball hits the leg stump and the bail didn't come off! What's more, the stump lights went on! But they are supposed to go on only when the bail falls down. 

Captain Misbah ul-Haq is the new batsman, and he has a job on his hands - AGAIN.

OUT! Ahmed Shehzad is the next one to go, and almost exactly in the same fashion as Sarfraz! Edged behind with no feet movement, and Clarke at second slip takes it. Pakistan 24/2.

Over 5

Short, Sohail ducks. Pakistan 24/1.

FOUR. Slashed over point, just out of the reach of a jumping man and the ball races to the fence.

Haris Sohail is the new man in.

OUT! Edged, Good length ball outside off, swings away at the last moment. Sarfraz played without foot movement and was caught by Watson at first slip. Pakistan 20/1.

FOUR. Good ball from Starc, fast and stomach-high. But Sarfraz swivels around and plays it to the deep square leg boundary for four.

Played into the covers, Pakistan get two. Should have been four but there was no power on the shot.

Wide ball first up from Starc.

Over 3

Sarfraz hits a short ball over point, but the fielder at third man comes round and puts in a good dive to stop it. Pakistan 12/0 after 3 overs.

On legs, flicked away to fine leg for two.

Sarfraz looks to get off strike with a dab off the hips, but is sent back. 8 balls for 0.

Attempted yorker goes wrong and the resultant full toss is edged to third man by Shehzad.

Over 2

Slashes, misses, no feet. Poor response to a mediocre ball. Pakistan 6/0 after 2 overs.

FOUR. Strays on leg, Sarfraz is hit on the pads and it runs away fine for four.

Short ball fourth, Sarfraz defends it down the ground, Hazlewood aims it back at Sarfraz.

Single off the third ball from Shehzad.

Josh Hazlewood shares the new ball with Starc.

Over 1

Another cover drive, straight to cover again. Pakistan 1/0 after 1 over.

Short ball from Starc, Sarfraz ducks under.

Plays and misses, that was a good ball, swung in late after pitching outside off.

Cover drive by Sarfraz is stopped in the covers.

2nd ball is defended to the off side by Sarfraz Ahmed.

Ahmed Shehzad scores a single off Mitchell Starc's first ball.


8:35 IST Friday, 20 March 2015

It's time for the toss. Pakistan win the toss and choose to bat first.
 

8:33 IST Friday, 20 March 2015

The pitch is green, greener than Shane Warne has ever seen at Adelaide.

7:27 IST Friday, 20 March 2015

Welcome to the LIVE coverage of the 3rd quarterfinal at Adelaide. Australia and Pakistan will clash for a spot in the semifinals, with the match beginning at 9 am IST.

Australia and Pakistan have forged contrasting routes to the quarterfinals. While Australia won against all opposition except New Zealand (with the Bangladesh match rained out), Pakistan struggled, losing to India and West Indies and ekeing out a win against Zimbabwe before beating - importantly - South Africa. The other teams - UAE and Ireland - proved to be no match for the resurgent Pakistan.

However, they sure have a mighty task on their hands when they face Australia. The Oz bowling has been on a rampage, with Mitchell Starc taking 16 wickets so far at a measly average of 8.5, and strong support from Mitchell Johnson in particular. Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh have also impressed. With the bat, Warner has averaged 66 at a strike rate of 125, and Maxwell 64 at 190! Australia's batting and bowling both have a tendency to get stuck into the opposition psyche, so that will be Pakistan's biggest challenge. Here's the whole match preview

Moreover, Pakistan are hampered by the loss of Mohammad Irfan, out due to injury. Ehsan Adil may replace him, though Yasir Shah's name has also been thrown around. But Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan and Rahat Ali will now have to step up big time. In the batting department, Sarfraz Ahmed's century against UAE was Pakistan's first, though Misbah ul Haq too has been batting well. The major problem there however, is the pace at which Pakistan score. Misbah and opener Ahmed Shehzad have both scored over 200 runs (Misbah over 300) but at strike rates in the 70s. The rest of the batting has not done much to talk about.

Adelaide is a pitch that provides little help to the bowlers, so Pakistan should try to bat first if they win the toss. Pakistan are desperate for a semifinal showdown with India, doubtless hoping to register an epic win and also improve their World Cup record against the team to 1-6. Australia for their part are going into this match like it's a final. They are banking on some guidance by Steve Waugh to ensure that semifinal spot.

Both Misbah ul-Haq and Michael Clarke talked to media persons before the match.

To follow our complete coverage of the World Cup, click here