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There’s no point in Shane Watson or Glenn Maxwell buying Lotto tickets this week, they both used their share of luck against Pakistan in Adelaide last night.
Watson was dropped a sitter at fine leg by Rahat Ali when he was only on 4, while Maxwell was dropped on 10 at third man by Sohail Khan – a harder chance, but very catchable.
The hapless bowler was left-armer Wahab Riaz who gave both batsmen a torrid bouncer workout, supported by sledging gobfulls, and blowing kisses to Watson.
Wahib’s spirited nine overs were among the best and most ferocious spells in the tournament.
Watson finished unbeaten on 64, Maxwell on 44 not out – adding an extra 98 runs between them in Australia’s seemingly easy six-wicket win to qualify for the World Cup semis against unbeaten India, the defending champions.
Australia can’t rely on Lady Luck calling the shots, they must bat a whole lot better, and more consistently, if they are to reach the decider.
In the Australian top six, only Steve Smith and to a lesser extent Maxwell can claim to be reliable – Smith because he’s the best bat in the side, and Maxwell because he rides his luck and to this point is laughing all the way to the run-bank.
Smith’s runs to date in the tournament are 5, 4, 95, 72, and 65. Maxwell’s 66, 1, 88, 102, and 44*.
The batting problems start with openers David Warner and Aaron Finch. So far they have shared stands of 57, 30, 14, 19, 30, and 15 – not good enough to win the World Cup.
Warner’s scored 22, 34, 178, 9, 21*, and 24. Finch 135, 14, 4, 24, 20, and 2 – both well below par.
Skipper Michael Clarke has scored 12, 68, 47, and 8. Watson 0, 23, 67, 24, and 64*.
Put their best digs together in the top six, and that’s what is expected of the Australian batting order.
The attack’s fine, led by Mitchell Starc, the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 18 at 9.77. Mitchell Johnson has 10 at 24.50, Josh Hazlewood 6 at 17.50, Pat Cummins 5 at 16, and James Faulkner 4 at 25.50.
The fielding is brilliant.
Today the unbeaten New Zealand face the West Indies in the fourth quarter final at Wellington.
If ever there’s a master-blaster shoot-out looming this is it – between Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum and the Windies ‘GayleForce’ Chris Gayle.
McCullum’s top score of 77 off 25 was against England with 8 fours and 7 sixes – a low score for him – while Gayle’s best is a tournament-high 215 off only 147 against Zimbabwe, with 10 fours and a world-record equalling 16 sixes.
If either tee off today, that will probably decide the issue to set up a semi-final against South Africa.