“Lone Warrior” couldn’t won the battle for Pakistan

Pakistan Vs Australia- match played on 20th March, 2015- Photo Credit: Online Images

This was 3^rd quarter final which was again not provide a hand to hand finish and favorite won quite easily. It was Pakistan who won the toss and captain Misbah ul Haq elected to bat first. This time opening start wasn’t good as Surfaraz Ahmad and Ahmad Shahzad got out at just 10 and 5 runs respectively. Misbah ul Haq and young Haris Sohail palyed some good hands and their 34 and 41 runs innings took Pakistan to 97 where Misbah ul Haq tried to hit yet another six to G Maxwell and caught in the deep. Soon after Haris Sohail also got out on M Johnson’s bowling. Pakistan’s middle order batting, containing Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood and Shahid Afride couldn’t make things right. Umar Akmal dismissal was as carbon copy of Misbah ul Haq as he got out on the bowling of same bowler i.e. Maxwell, on the same shot and caught by the same fielder. He made just 20 runs while Sohaib’s contribution was of just 29 runs. Shahid Afridi who was playing his last ODI couldn’t make his end well and got out on just 23 runs off 15 balls. Pakistan’s lower order batting couldn’t resist much against Aussies pace bowling and their contribution was just a few runs, though they made it possible for Pakistan to cross 200. Team Pakistan ended their innings with 213 on the score board in 49.5 overs. J Hazelwood took 4 wickets, G Maxwell and M Johnson took 2 wickets each which J Faulkner and M Starc dismissed one batsman each.

Australia, in reply, tried to get flying start by A Finch got lbw out in the 3^rd over by Sohail Khan. Then Wahab Riaz got D Warner and M Clark out in his first two overs. He was looking too aggressive and in tremendous form. He was looking out of this world today but Pakistani fielders couldn’t contribute to him as two easy catches were dropped. One of the two dropped catches was of S Watson who was on playing on 4 runs then, he gave a straight chance to Rahat Ali but he couldn’t hold the ball, the other catch was of G Maxwell, this one was dropped by Sohail Khan in the third man area. These two drop catches hurt Pakistan badly as G Maxwell and S Watson played an unbeaten partnership of 68 runs. S Smith also played beautiful 65 runs with the help of 7 fantastic fours. Australia chased down the target in just 33.5 overs with S Watson’s 64 and G Maxwell’s 44 runs. Wahab Riaz bowled beautifully and took 2 wickets while Sohail Khan and Ehsan Adil shared one wicket each. This third contest wasn’t up to the mark as favorite team won again, quite easily.