Pakistan vs Australia: 1st Twenty20 international

Yesterday Australia and Pakistan played their first Twenty20 cricket match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. Pakistan won the toss & elected to bat first.

Shahzaib Hasan was out in the very first ball of his batting innings. Salman Butt faced 21 deliveries and scored just 13 runs and then got out in David Hussey's over. Three wickets fell from 6.4 over to 7.4 over. At this point of time, Pakistan had scored 47 runs from 7.4 overs. Shahid Afridi failed to hit big, as he was duck out by getting bowled in the Steven Smith's over. Umar Akmal played magnificently scoring 64 runs from just 31 deliveries which included 7 fours and 3 sixes. This helped Pakistan to put up a decent total against the Australians. After 20 overs, Pakistan scored a total of 167 runs loosing 8 wickets.

Australia needed 168 runs to win the Twenty20 match. Shane Watson did not score a single run as he got out in the last delivery of the first over. Australians kept on loosing wickets in regular intervals. David Warner survived for some time, but there was no good partnership from Australian side. After the fall of their sixth wicket, they started to struggle a lot just to add a run to their total. By 18.4 overs, Australia lost all its 10 wickets and ended up scoring 144 runs in total. Pakistan won the match by 23 runs. Man of the match was Umar Akmal for his magnificent 64 runs from just 31 deliveries.

 

Pakistan won the match by 11 runs

Pakistan are out of semi-finals as they had lost 2 super eight matches previously, they had to face South Africa for pride. This was an must win match for South Africa in order to make it to semi-finals. Both clashed today at Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet - St Lucia. Pakistan won the toss & elected to bat first.

Kamran Akmal & Salman Butt opened the innings for Pakistan, but this partnership did not last long as Salman Butt got out in 1.4 over. Pakistan soon lost 2 more wickets & were struggling. Partnerships between Kamran Akmal & Umar Akmal  and between Umar Akmal & Shahid Afridi helped Pakistan to put up a total score of 148 runs. Completing 20 overs, Pakistan scored 148 runs loosing 7 wickets at an average run rate of 7.4 rpo. Umar Akmal was the highest scorer from Pakistan side who scored a magnificent knock of 51 runs from 33 deliveries which included 2 fours & 4 sixes.

Chasing the score of 149 runs, South Africa opened their chase with Herschelle Gibbs & Graeme Smith. South Africans were loosing wickets in regular intervals & the required run rate was always less than the asking rate. AB de Villiers played a lonely battle for South Africa, but it did not work well as he got out giving an easy catch to the wicket keeper. He scored 53 runs from 41 deliveries. South Africa completing 20 overs scored 137 runs loosing 7 wickets. Pakistan won the match by 11 runs. After this match, now its time to say bye bye for the South Africa as well along with Pakistan, India.