Bat, ball favour Pakistan

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Sabbir Hossain :
An all-round performance helped Pakistan to beat Australia in their Group B match of the ICC World Twenty20 Cricket at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Sunday
Pakistan dominated over the mighty Aussies by their superb batting, tight bowling attack and entertaining fielding.
Pakistan had a shaky start. They lost their early two wickets for 25 runs. Then Umar Akmal andKamran Akmal put on together 96 runs for the third wicket partnership before Kamran Akmal was caught at the deep point by DA Warner off Coulter-Nile when Pakistan’s total was 121 for the loss of three wickets. Batting first Pakistan piled up a mammoth 191 for the loss of five wickets in the stipulated 20 overs and then they dismissed Australia for 175 off 20 overs. Umar Akmal hit a terrific 94. His 54-ball typhoon innings was studded with four sixes nine fours. Umar Akmal was adjudged the Man of the Match for his outstanding batting performance.
Kamran Akmal hit a run-a-ball 31 featuring four fours.
Later, Umar Akmal and Shahid Afridi added together 33 runs for the fifth wicket stand before Umar Akmal was caught at the long-on by GJ Maxwell off MA Starc when Pakistan’s score was 180 for the loss of five wickets. Shahid Afridi remained unbeaten with 20 from 11 balls with two fours and a sixer.
Coulter-Nile bagged a pair of wickets at the cost of 36 runs while DE Bollinger, MA Starc and SR Watson got one wicket each conceding 28, 35 and 38 runs respectively.
Pakistani bowlers bowled really well in wrecking Australia innings.
Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi and Bilwal Bhatti chipped in with two wickets each for 26, 29, 30 and 36 runs respectively. Australia faced early batting collapse as they lost their early two wickets for just eight runs.
Then opener AJ Finch and GJ Maxwell fought back adding together 118 runs in the third wicket stand before Maxwell was caught by Ahmed Shehzad off Shahid Afridi when Australia’s total was 126 for the loss of three wickets.
Maxwell was the highest scorer of Australia. He crocked a stormy 74 from 33 balls with six over boundaries and seven boundaries. Later, AJ Finch was cleanly bowled out by spinner Saeed Ajmal wken Australia’s score was 162 for the loss of six wickets. After the dismissal of Finch Australia’s hope to chase Pakistan’s score became impossible.
Finch scored a notable 65 from 54 balls including seven fours and two sixes.

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