ICC World Twenty20, Highlights Pakistan beat Australia by 16 runs in high-scoring thriller.A lionhearted effort by Pakistan’s bowlers powered the 2009 champions to a 16-run win over Australia in a high-scoring World Twenty20 match in Mirpur on Sunday.Chasing 192 to clinch the Group Two super 10 match, Australia were cruising at 126 for two in the 12th over before the Pakistan bowlers turned the match on its head.Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi and Bilawal Bhatti claimed two wickets each as Australia were all out for 175.
Australia’s Glenn Maxwell blasted six sixes in a sizzling 74 and featured in a century-plus stand with Aaron Finch (65) but their efforts proved in vain.Australia lost quick wickets as David Warner and Shane Watson went in the first over before Maxwell came to the crease and set the stadium alight with some breathtaking power-hitting.A lionhearted effort by Pakistan’s bowlers powered the 2009 champions to a 16-run win over Australia in a high-scoring World Twenty20 match in Mirpur on Sunday.Chasing 192 to clinch the Group Two super 10 match, Australia were cruising at 126 for two in the 12th over before the Pakistan bowlers turned the match on its head.
Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi and Bilawal Bhatti claimed two wickets each as Australia were all out for 175.18:42 (IST): So, a brilliant batting effort from Pakistan and a resilient bowling display later on earned them a worthy 16-run win over Australia at Mirpur today. Australian captain George Bailey said there were plenty of positives considering they were two wickets down in the first over chasing 193. Pakistan skipper Mohammad Hafeez said it was Umar Akmal's day, who scored 94 runs off just 54 deliveries and said that his team was developing new match-winners. Umar Akmal, the Man of the Match, said that he had the backing of the team as well as the management to play his natural game.18:28 (IST): Pakistan beat Australia by 16 runs in a high-scoring Group 2 game at Mirpur. Australia were bowled out for 175 chasing 193.
18:26 (IST): WICKET! Brad Haddin c Malik b Bilawal Bhatti 8. AUS 173/9 (19.4 overs) chasing 192.
18:24 (IST): WICKET! Mitchell Starc run out Shahid Afridi 3. AUS 172/8 (19.2 overs). Need 20 runs off 4 balls to win.18:23 (IST): Australia need a seemingly impossible 23 runs off the last over to win. AUS 169/7 (19 overs).Bilawal Bhatti to bowl the final over, Brad Haddin is on strike, 23 needed from 6. He begins with a length delivery, Haddin smashes it towards long-on, two runs scored. 21 needed from 5. The second ball was a full-toss, Haddin hit it straight to covers where Afridi dropped a tough chance, but that doesn't help Australia as Starc is run-out! 20 needed from 4. Brad Hogg is the new man in. He takes a single off the first ball he faces. 19 needed from 3 balls. Haddin hits the fourth ball straight to the fielder at deep midwicket! 19 needed from 2. Hogg scores two runs through covers, 17 needed from 1. Hogg tried to hit the last ball out of the park, missed it, and the stumps were rattled! Pakistan have won the match by 16 runs.
GB Hogg b Bilawal Bhatti 3 (3b)
BJ Haddin c Shoaib Malik b Bilawal Bhatti 8 (8b)
MA Starc run out 3 (2b)
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Over 19 || Score 169/7
30 needed from 12 balls, Gul to bowl his final over. Brad Haddin is on strike. Haddin hit the first ball towards deep midwicket for a single. 29 required from 11. Umar Gul fires a yorker and the stumps are rattled, Coulter-Nile is bowled! Mitchell Starc is the new man in, the onus now on Haddin to show some fight. 29 needed from 10. Starc takes a single, 28 needed from 9. Haddin hits the ball towards square leg, two runs scored. 26 needed from 8. Haddin manages a single off a yorker, 25 needed from 7. Starc drove the last ball towards deep cover, two runs scored. 23 need from 6.
NM Coulter-Nile b Umar Gul 0 (3b)
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Over 18 || Score 162/6
Ajmal to bowl his final over, Haddin on strike. The first ball was a dot delivery and Haddin worked the second towards third man for a single. Finch made too much room for himself on the leg side and failed to make any contact, another dot ball. Ajmal bowls a quicker delivery, a clever delivery and Aaron Finch is bowled! Finch has scored 64 runs, but he has consumed 54 balls. Coulter-Nile is the new man in. Pakistan now have a real chance of winning the match with two new batsmen at the crease. Nile tried to play a slog sweep off the fifth ball, didn't connect. Nile tried a similar stroke off the last ball, which saw a similar result, no run scored. Just one run from the over and a wicket for Ajmal! Superb stuff!
AJ Finch b Saeed Ajmal 65 (54b)
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Over 17 || Score 161/5
Umar Gul to bowl his third over. Hodge was offered width, he slashed hard at it, Saeed Ajmal ran to his right from deep backward point and took a brilliant catch to dismiss Hodge! What a time to lose a wicket. Brad Haddin is the new man in. Finch will have to take the charge now. Finch smashed the fifth ball for a boundary towards deep square leg. 31 needed from the last three overs. Finch's wicket here could make a big difference for Pakistan.
BJ Hodge c Saeed Ajmal b Umar Gul 2 (3b)
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Over 16 || Score 153/4
Afridi to bowl his final over. And he strikes first ball, Bailey is bowled! The Asutralian skipper was looking clueless out there and it was just a matter of time that he was dismissed. Brad Hodge is the new man in. Finch swept the third ball of the over through deep square leg for a boundary! Seven runs from the over. Afridi ends his spell and he has got Pakistan back into the game with the wickets of Maxwell and Bailey. 39 required from the last four overs.
GJ Bailey b Shahid Afridi 4 (9b)
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Over 15 || Score 146/3
Ajmal to bowl his third over. Finch once again got an outside-edge off the last ball, which rushed past third man for a boundary and Finch has also reached his half-century off 44 balls! Eight runs from the over. It has been a good comeback from Pakistan so far.Umar Akmal fell six runs short of his maiden Twenty20 International century as his 54-ball blitz powered Pakistan to 191 for five.
Pakistan, who looked determined to shrug off Friday’s defeat to arch-rivals India, were 25-2 in the fifth over when Umar walked in to join brother Kamran Akmal (31) and they shared a 96-run partnership in 8.3 overs.
