Mike Hussey 6-6-4-6, Australia in final of World T20
Saturday, May 15, 2010
5:40 AM
Labels: 2010 , 2010 Australia , 2010 Pakistan , 2010 World Cup , 2010 World Cup semi-final , Australia , 0 comments
Mike Hussey has single-handedly bludgeoned Australia into the World Twenty20 final against England with a miracle final-over performance in the semi-final against Pakistan at Beausejour Cricket Ground.
Needing 18 off the final over the match chasing Pakistan's 6-191, Hussey belted three sixes and a four off spinner Saeed Ajmal as Australia won with one ball to spare.
After storming through the tournament undefeated, it was a victory that never seemed possible after slumping to 4-62 at one stage but Hussey's 60 from 24 balls saved their day.
Australia will now meet England in the final at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday.
Captain Michael Clarke's decision to bowl after winning the toss looked to be a costly call, with brothers Kamran and Umar Akmal blasting half centuries as Pakistan set-up an imposing total.
Australia rarely seemed in the hunt during their chase, especially after lethal David Warner was caught off the second ball of the innings.
Earlier, Pakistan openers Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt (32 from 30) had got their team off to a cracking start in posting the highest total against Australia in the tournament so far.
Morning drizzle had delayed the start by more than half an hour and there were thoughts that the game would not be played at all - which would've seen Australia through to the decider because of their form throughout the tournament.
When Clarke won the toss, he elected to bowl, probably solid in the belief that the Duckworth-Lewis Method favours the side batting second in Twenty20.
But it was a decision that initially proved costly. Akmal and Butt tore into Australia's much-vaunted pace attack of Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson.
When all-rounder Steve Smith was introduced sixth over to bowl leg-spin, they duly whacked him for 15 runs. Two overs later, they belted Shane Watson for 16, with Akmal scorching one into the second tier of the players' pavilion. At 0-82 from nine overs, Pakistan were positively on fire.
Then David Warner took a spectacular diving catch at deep over when Akmal tried to bite off more than he could chew. Two overs later, he took an easier one to dismiss Butt and Pakistan had slowed to 2-89.
It was only a temporary loss of transmission. Umar Akmal then came to the fore, belting 56 runs - including three sixes off the one over from Johnson in the 17th - to put Pakistan firmly in the box seat.
Australia started its reply in disastrous style when Warner was caught off the second ball of the innings. Watson got the party started, rattling Mohammad Aamer and Abdul Razzaq for boundaries, but when he holed out for 16 Australia were staring down the barrel of defeat at 2-26.
When Clarke and Brad Haddin were stumped in the space of consecutive overs off the bowling of Rehman and then Afridi, they slipped further into the mire.
Vice-captain Cameron White bravely attempted to rescue the match but when he was caught for 43, Australia's promising World Cup had all but collapsed until Hussey's final-over heroics.
Needing 18 off the final over the match chasing Pakistan's 6-191, Hussey belted three sixes and a four off spinner Saeed Ajmal as Australia won with one ball to spare.
After storming through the tournament undefeated, it was a victory that never seemed possible after slumping to 4-62 at one stage but Hussey's 60 from 24 balls saved their day.
Australia will now meet England in the final at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Sunday.
Captain Michael Clarke's decision to bowl after winning the toss looked to be a costly call, with brothers Kamran and Umar Akmal blasting half centuries as Pakistan set-up an imposing total.
Australia rarely seemed in the hunt during their chase, especially after lethal David Warner was caught off the second ball of the innings.
Earlier, Pakistan openers Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt (32 from 30) had got their team off to a cracking start in posting the highest total against Australia in the tournament so far.
Morning drizzle had delayed the start by more than half an hour and there were thoughts that the game would not be played at all - which would've seen Australia through to the decider because of their form throughout the tournament.
When Clarke won the toss, he elected to bowl, probably solid in the belief that the Duckworth-Lewis Method favours the side batting second in Twenty20.
But it was a decision that initially proved costly. Akmal and Butt tore into Australia's much-vaunted pace attack of Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson.
When all-rounder Steve Smith was introduced sixth over to bowl leg-spin, they duly whacked him for 15 runs. Two overs later, they belted Shane Watson for 16, with Akmal scorching one into the second tier of the players' pavilion. At 0-82 from nine overs, Pakistan were positively on fire.
Then David Warner took a spectacular diving catch at deep over when Akmal tried to bite off more than he could chew. Two overs later, he took an easier one to dismiss Butt and Pakistan had slowed to 2-89.
It was only a temporary loss of transmission. Umar Akmal then came to the fore, belting 56 runs - including three sixes off the one over from Johnson in the 17th - to put Pakistan firmly in the box seat.
Australia started its reply in disastrous style when Warner was caught off the second ball of the innings. Watson got the party started, rattling Mohammad Aamer and Abdul Razzaq for boundaries, but when he holed out for 16 Australia were staring down the barrel of defeat at 2-26.
When Clarke and Brad Haddin were stumped in the space of consecutive overs off the bowling of Rehman and then Afridi, they slipped further into the mire.
Vice-captain Cameron White bravely attempted to rescue the match but when he was caught for 43, Australia's promising World Cup had all but collapsed until Hussey's final-over heroics.
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