Scorecard:

Pakistan: 191 for 6 (20 overs)

(Umar Akmal 56* off 35 balls, Kamran Akmal 50 off 34 balls, Salman Butt 32 off 30 balls, Smith 1 for 23)

Australia: 197 for 7 (19.5 overs)

(M Hussey 60* off 24 balls, White 43 off 31 balls, Haddin 25 off 20 balls, Aamer 3 for 35, Rehman 2 for 33)

Pakistan, World Champions vs Australia, I-don’t-know-this-stuff was a match which was difficult to predict. However, once Pakistan enters the knockout stage, they are known to become very dangerous. Today was no different. Pakistan, batting first put up great partnerships. 82 for first wicket in 9.4 overs and then 46 in last 3 overs!!! Actually they put 73 in last 5 overs!! Akmal brothers did very well to score a bulk of runs.

Australia were in comparison 4 down for 67 in 10 overs. The dream run seemed to run out of steam. Getting 125 runs in 10 overs seemed too tough especially with 4 wickets gone. David Hussey sparked for a second and put 43 in 4.1 overs. Well 10 rpo was not enough and the asking rate had got even higher. Another 4 overs and 34 runs later White departed and the asking rate had gone to the north pole! 3.3 overs left and 52 runs to get put the asking rate at 14.9 rpo. Was this it? 4balls and 5 runs more and Smith departs! 2 overs 5 balls and 48 to get. It was over. Eyes moist, Australians had started packing their bags. Next 5 balls got 14 runs. 34 in 2 overs left. Another 16 runs in the next over, and 18 left. Still looked too daunting. Just one wicket and it’d be over. The over began with Johnson on strike! One of the first ball meant 17 to be taken in 5 balls! Mike Hussey hits 6,6,4,6 to reach with a ball to spare! This is the innings of his lifetime!