Watson fires Aussies, India advances to Super 8
Source: Agencies |
May 4, 2010, Tuesday
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AUSTRALIA made an impressive start to its Twenty20 World Cup campaign with Shane Watson hammering 81 from 49 balls in a convincing 34-run victory over defending champion Pakistan at Gros Islet, St Lucia, on Sunday.
Australia's innings ended in bizarre fashion with a five-wicket maiden but its total of 191 was always going to be tough for Pakistan.
The Australians have yet to truly shine in the shortest version of the game and were eliminated without a win from the group stages of last year's edition in South Africa.
But on this evidence they have assembled a team of hard-hitting specialists and quick bowlers who can cope with the unique demands of the format.
One of those Twenty20 specialists, David Warner helped get Australia off to a rapid start with 26 from 18 balls, taking the total to 51 inside six overs before he fell.
After Clarke went cheaply, David Hussey and Watson took charge, adding 98 in 8.2 overs of aggressive hitting. Hussey struck 53 from 29 balls, including five sixes, as he laid into the Pakistani attack.
Although the final over resulted in no runs and five wickets - two of them run outs and three to left-armer Mohammad Aamer - Pakistan knew it would need a flying start if it was to have any chance.
But openers Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt both went inside the opening four overs and, despite a lively 41 to Misbah-ul-Haq and 33 off 24 balls from Shahid Afridi, Australia never offered the Pakistanis more than a glimmer of hope.
In the earlier match, a magnificent 101 off 60 balls from Suresh Raina fired India to a 14-run victory over South Africa which booked its place in the Super Eight stage.
Raina's score is the third highest innings in a Twenty20 international and included nine fours and five sixes. Yuvraj Singh's 37 contributed to a key 88-run partnership with 23-year-old Raina, who brought up his ton with a massive six over mid-wicket in the final over before he was caught off the next ball from Albie Morkel.
South Africa was always struggling to match the required rate, reaching 172-5 after Jacques Kallis' 73 off 54 balls and Graeme Smith's 36 off 28 balls.
India advanced after also beating Afghanistan on Saturday.
Meanwhile, record wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan will miss the rest of the Twenty20 World Cup after the off-spinner injured his groin in Sri Lanka's loss to New Zealand.
Team physio Tommy Simsek said Muralitharan had strained his right adductor muscle and would need up to three weeks to recover from the injury, the Sri Lankan cricket board said yesterday.
Australia's innings ended in bizarre fashion with a five-wicket maiden but its total of 191 was always going to be tough for Pakistan.
The Australians have yet to truly shine in the shortest version of the game and were eliminated without a win from the group stages of last year's edition in South Africa.
But on this evidence they have assembled a team of hard-hitting specialists and quick bowlers who can cope with the unique demands of the format.
One of those Twenty20 specialists, David Warner helped get Australia off to a rapid start with 26 from 18 balls, taking the total to 51 inside six overs before he fell.
After Clarke went cheaply, David Hussey and Watson took charge, adding 98 in 8.2 overs of aggressive hitting. Hussey struck 53 from 29 balls, including five sixes, as he laid into the Pakistani attack.
Although the final over resulted in no runs and five wickets - two of them run outs and three to left-armer Mohammad Aamer - Pakistan knew it would need a flying start if it was to have any chance.
But openers Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt both went inside the opening four overs and, despite a lively 41 to Misbah-ul-Haq and 33 off 24 balls from Shahid Afridi, Australia never offered the Pakistanis more than a glimmer of hope.
In the earlier match, a magnificent 101 off 60 balls from Suresh Raina fired India to a 14-run victory over South Africa which booked its place in the Super Eight stage.
Raina's score is the third highest innings in a Twenty20 international and included nine fours and five sixes. Yuvraj Singh's 37 contributed to a key 88-run partnership with 23-year-old Raina, who brought up his ton with a massive six over mid-wicket in the final over before he was caught off the next ball from Albie Morkel.
South Africa was always struggling to match the required rate, reaching 172-5 after Jacques Kallis' 73 off 54 balls and Graeme Smith's 36 off 28 balls.
India advanced after also beating Afghanistan on Saturday.
Meanwhile, record wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan will miss the rest of the Twenty20 World Cup after the off-spinner injured his groin in Sri Lanka's loss to New Zealand.
Team physio Tommy Simsek said Muralitharan had strained his right adductor muscle and would need up to three weeks to recover from the injury, the Sri Lankan cricket board said yesterday.
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