Pakistan record thrilling 16-run win against Australia
March 23, 2014
| WATCH: MATCH ANALYSIS |
| WATCH: CELEBRATIONS |
Chasing a huge target of 192, Australia made a disastrous start when left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar, opening the attack, dismissed David Warner and Shane Watson in the first over.
However, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell came to rescue and changed the complexion of the game through their big hitting.
They added 118 runs for the third wicket partnership in 10.4 overs before leg-spinner Shahid Afridi got rid off Maxwell, who made 74 off 33 balls smashing six towering sixes and seven fours.
Still in the game, Australia now needed 66 runs more in 50 balls with seven wickets in hand.
But Afridi struck again in the 16th over dismissing captain George Bailey and then Pakistan bowlers were taking one wicket in every over till the start of the 20th over.
Meanwhile, Finch also got out for 65 which he scored off 54 balls with seven fours and two sixes.
Now it became a tough job for the remaining Aussie batsmen to make 30 in 14 balls and it became tougher when they needed 23 in the final over.
Seamer Bilawal Bhatti, who conceded 30 runs in his first over now came back to bowl his second over to see the fall of remaining three wickets for only six runs.
Babar, Umar Gul, Afridi and Bhatti claimed two wickets each while Saeed Ajmal took one.
Earlier, Umar Akmal smashed 94 off 54 balls as Pakistan piled up 191-5 after being sent in to bat by Australia.
Elder brother Kamran Akmal contributed a run-a-ball 31 and Shahid Afridi returned unbeaten on 20 off 11 balls.
The Akmal brothers put on 96 for the third wicket after Pakistan were reduced to 25-2, losing the key wickets of Ahmed Shehzad and skipper Mohammad Hafeez.
Umar Akmal hit four sixes and nine boundaries before he fell in the final over, caught on the fence attempting another big hit off Mitchell Starc.
