Pakistan Floats to Semi Finals by Beating Australia by 32 runs

Pakistan beat Australia by 32 runs in their Super Eight Group Two match
at the Twenty20 World Cup in Colombo on Tuesday. Pakistan posted a total of 149-6 in 20 overs (Nasir Jamshed 55, Kamran Akmal 32; Mitchell Starc 3-20) v Australia 117-7 in 20 overs (Michael Hussey 54 not out; Saeed Ajmal 3-17).

Chasing a target of 150 to win, Australia could manage only 117 for seven from their allotted 20 overs. Michael Hussey remained unbeaten on 54 off 47 balls, but his effort went in vain. Saeed Ajmal impressed with the figures of three for 17, but it was Mohammad Hafeez and Raza Hasan who led Pakistan's bowling attack.

Earlier in the first innings, an impressive half-century by Jamshed and useful contributions from Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq helped Pakistan post a competitive 149 for six. Jamshed made 55 off 46 balls and along with Akmal added 79 runs for the third wicket. Akmal made 32 off 26 balls with the help of a four and a six.

Abdul Razzaq's 22 off 17 balls also helped Pakistan in reaching close to the 150-run mark while left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc was pick of the Australian bowlers with brilliant figures of 3 for 20 in his four-over spell.

Put into bat, Pakistan skipper Mohammed Hafeez was the first one to walk back to the dug-out when Starc's inswinging delivery caught him plumb in-front after he had made only four.