CENTURION, Sept 30 (PTI): Australia completed the semifinal line-up in the Champions Trophy with a thrilling two-wicket victory against Pakistan in their last Group A league match here today. After this result, India were eliminated from the championship.
Chasing a moderate victory target of 206, Australia got the the winning run in the last ball of the innings.
Michael Hussy was the top scorer with 64 while captain Ricky Ponting contributed an useful 32 on the difficult Centurion track.
Earlier, Australia restricted Pakistan to a modest 205 for six.
Put into bat, opener Kamran Akmal (44), Mohammad Yousuf (45) and Misbah-ul Haq (41) provided a semblance of resistance on a tricky Centurion pitch to leave the Aussies to score at 4.10 runs per over to secure a berth in the semifinals.
Akmal’s knock, during which he struck six boundaries, helped Pakistan recover from early jolts, while Yousuf tried to hold the innings together with a defiant 69-ball 45.
Pakistan started on an attacking note with Shahid Afridi, promoted to open the batting, cracking two boundaries off Australia paceman Peter Siddle in the second over of the innings.
But Afridi (15), who struck three bounderies during his brief 18-ball stay, failed to make it big and became the first man to depart when his ambitious pull off Mitchell Johnson (2-45) found James Hopes in square leg region in the eighth over.
For Australia, Shane Watson was the other bowler who picked two Pakistani wickets giving away 32 runs in his eight overs.
Chasing a moderate victory target of 206, Australia got the the winning run in the last ball of the innings.
Michael Hussy was the top scorer with 64 while captain Ricky Ponting contributed an useful 32 on the difficult Centurion track.
Earlier, Australia restricted Pakistan to a modest 205 for six.
Put into bat, opener Kamran Akmal (44), Mohammad Yousuf (45) and Misbah-ul Haq (41) provided a semblance of resistance on a tricky Centurion pitch to leave the Aussies to score at 4.10 runs per over to secure a berth in the semifinals.
Akmal’s knock, during which he struck six boundaries, helped Pakistan recover from early jolts, while Yousuf tried to hold the innings together with a defiant 69-ball 45.
Pakistan started on an attacking note with Shahid Afridi, promoted to open the batting, cracking two boundaries off Australia paceman Peter Siddle in the second over of the innings.
But Afridi (15), who struck three bounderies during his brief 18-ball stay, failed to make it big and became the first man to depart when his ambitious pull off Mitchell Johnson (2-45) found James Hopes in square leg region in the eighth over.
For Australia, Shane Watson was the other bowler who picked two Pakistani wickets giving away 32 runs in his eight overs.
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