Another Steve Smith gem and Shane Watson’s survival of brutal bodyline bowling inspired Australia to a six-wicket triumph against Pakistan in Friday’s World Cup quarter-final.
Smith compiled a classy 65 and Watson, who was headhunted by Pakistan pacer Wahab Riaz, made an unbeaten 64 as Australia reached their 214-run target with a whopping 97 balls to spare at Adelaide Oval.
The Australians, who finished 4-216, booked a semi-final berth against India on Thursday, in Sydney after Wahab produced one of the fiercest, and most theatrical, bowling spells of recent times.
After Australia’s recalled paceman Josh Hazlewood snared four wickets as Pakistan were bowled out for 213, the hosts cruised to 1-49 in the eighth over when Wahab was summoned, and he brought a vicious tone to the knockout bout.
The left-arm quick dismissed David Warner (24 from 23 balls) and, next over, produced a searing short ball which Australian captain Michael Clarke could only fend to short leg.
When Watson appeared, he was like a red rag to the Pakistan bull who spent the next four overs seemingly trying to knock the Australian’s block off.
After bouncing Watson first ball, Wahab’s follow-through continued until under the bemused batsman’s nose.
In a relentless short-ball barrage, Wahab almost badged the Australian a few times, responding with goading applause and even blowing a kiss to Watson.
Wahab should have had the last laugh: Watson, on four, hooked to Rahat Ali at fine leg only for the Pakistani to drop a dolly of a catch – it was a defining moment.
Watson and Smith, who was the calm in the storm, put on an 89-run partnership which laid the platform for victory.
Smith’s 69-ball knock ended when trapped lbw by Ehsan Adil, but by then the host nation required only another 65 runs from more than 23 overs.
Watson and Glenn Maxwell (44 from 29 balls) reeled in the target after Australia produced a commanding performance in the field.
Australia recalled Hazlewood to replace Pat Cummins and he produced superb figures of 4-35 from 10 overs. Fellow quick Mitchell Starc and spinner Maxwell both took two wickets.
Pakistan’s batting never gained traction from hitting two bumps.
The first was losing two wickets in three balls to be 2-24 in the sixth over.
The next was losing 4-61 in a middle-order slump which left them 6-158 in the 34th over – they never recovered.
The defeat ends the one-day international careers of Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and allrounder Shahid Afridi, who previously announced they would retire at the end of Pakistan’s cup campaign.
