A classic Pakistan implosion handed Australia their third win of the World Cup last night after the Aussies had coughed up a chance to make a massive score batting first.
Pakistan were in control of the match at 2-136 after 25 overs chasing 308, with Imam ul Haq and Mohammad Hafeez batting well, unbeaten on 53 and 44 respectively.
Click here to view The Roar’s Australia versus Pakistan match report.
Australia looked particularly vulnerable because of the fact they still needed to get up to 12 more overs out of Kane Richardson and Glenn Maxwell, who had been very expensive, conceding 0-55 from their eight overs to that point.
Then Pakistan fell apart, as they so often do, in 15 balls of madness. Within that brief period they not only lost three wickets, but also handed Australia another two golden chances which they squandered.
First up Imam ul-Haq got a short ball from Pat Cummins that was going for a wide well down the leg side.
The left hander was anchoring the chase beautifully and looked intent on batting through the innings. Then, for some unknown reason, ul-Haq decided to chase this wayward Cummins delivery and succeeded only in strangling it through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Seven balls later the Aussie gloveman missed a simple stumping when new batsman Sarfraz Ahmed overbalanced against a rank leg side delivery from part time spinner Aaron Finch.
Carey juggled the ball, allowing Sarfraz time to get back into his crease. That saved the Pakistan captain from what would have been an awfully embarrassing dismissal against a very unthreatening bowler.
Then Hafeez decided he would be the one to be humiliated by Finch. The left arm spinner looped up the most gentle of full tosses, the kind of juicy delivery batsmen dream about whether awake or asleep.
Instead of slugging it many rows into the crowd, the only treatment it deserved, Hafeez somehow bunted the ball straight to deep midwicket.
The chaos continued the very next ball when Sarfraz hit the ball straight to gun fieldsman David Warner, called yes and sold new batsman Shoaib Malik down the river.
Warner would have been disappointed after missing the stumps from a short distance and a favourable angle. Had he hit Shoaib would have been out without even facing a single ball.
Shoaib only hung around for two deliveries in any case. From the second ball he faced the all-rounder inside edged a cracking delivery from Pat Cummins to give a catch to Carey. Pakistan had lost 3-11 in this shambolic 15-ball period.
Sarfraz didn’t give up and steered his team nicely, supported by a couple of lusty knocks from tail enders Hasan Ali (32 from 15 balls) and Wahab Riaz (45 from 39 balls). But that earlier collapse cruelled them and they fell 42 runs short of victory.
The Aussies now need to win just three of their next five matches to be all but assured of qualifying for the semi-finals.
Earlier the Aussies wasted a fantastic platform set by openers David Warner (107 from 111 balls) and Aaron Finch (82 from 84 balls). Warner was very impressive, looking far more positive after his oddly-stilted innings against India.
David Warner celebrates his century during Australia’s win over Pakistan. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)
At 0-146 from 22 overs Australia were well positioned to make a monster score of 370-plus and nearly bat Pakistan out of the match.
However a succession of loose shots and poor decisions saw them squander that opportunity and put up a middling score on a small Taunton ground.
Australia then once more relied heavily on opening bowlers Pat Cummins (3-33) and Mitchell Starc (2-42). The remainder of the Australian attack was decidedly ordinary.
Playing his first game of the tournament, seamer Kane Richardson was very poor, and was flattered by his figures of 2-62 from eight overs.
All-rounder Maxwell (0-58 from seven overs) was also clattered, which likely puts paid to the idea of Australia playing five specialist batsmen as they did yesterday.
Australia will surely pick a second all-rounder from here on – either Marcus Stoinis if he recovers from his side strain, or Mitchell Marsh should he replace Stoinis in the squad.
Above all, Australia were fortunate to win yesterday. Pakistan coughed up a match that was in their grasp with a trademark burst of panic.
jose
Roar Rookie
Kane took 3 wickets against SL, so does that mean he is going to get few more matches ?
anon
Roar Pro
That's fine but you're in the minority. The World Cup is far more important than a Test series that has been trumped by the Australia/India Test series in recent years.
David
Guest
I didn't realise we all had to fall into line. You should watch some test cricket. You might find it's a much more enjoyable game than white ball cricket.
David
Guest
I'm really not concerned about what people from another country think of test cricket. I place more importance on it because it's a more enjoyable format of cricket to watch. Not everyone wants the World Cup. I know plenty of people that, while they'll watch a few games, couldn't care less whether we win but do care whether we win Ashes.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Pakistan lost the when they allowed Australia to score 0/146 by some insipid bowling and dropping catches.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Australia were lucky not because they failed to get more runs but because they bowled badly. It was a really good score for the conditions, they did get off to an exceptional start due to some luck, bad bowling and dropped catch and didn't capitalise on that. The wide from Cummins, the full toss from Finch getting two critical wickets when Pakistan were scoring at a good enough rate not to need to do anything. The concern has to be the bowling, Cummins has only been half decent, Starc only seems to be good against the tail, his first spell needs to be better, and what happens if you dont get into the tail.Wickets have been more for the fast bowlers so you would be expecting them to perform.Kane Richardson you think that would have been his type of wicket. Stoinis his bowling is more expensive than part timers.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
I thought NCN showed good signs last night, was moving the ball at decent pace, Finch went too early with Maxwell against Hafeez who wasn't yet set, Finch trying to get 5th bowler overs out the way. Should have kept NCN on, was looking good.
Geralt
Guest
The Ashes are more important than the World Cup? Lol get with the times grandpa
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Mitch Marsh should have been selected in the initial squad or another all rounder, it didn't appear a wise choice only picking Stoinis as the sole all rounder as he didn't have any competition for the Number 6. Behrendorff should be opening bowling with Starc and Cummins first change, those three could make early in roads. Don't rate K Richardson, only as T20. Play Khawaja as a 3 or an opener, batting at 6 is ridiculous. Australia need to back Zampa, he is the glue like Hoggy was. Finally, hats off Pakistan, no such thing as a dull game when they are involved.
anon
Roar Pro
World Cup is far more important that a Test series. Outside of England and Australia, no-one could give a stuff who has the Ashes. Everyone wants the World Cup.
David
Guest
I wouldn't worry about Hazlewood. I think they're just being cautious given that he's coming back from injury. They're saving him for The Ashes which is far, far more important than one day cricket.
Tigerbill44
Roar Guru
In both their wins against WI and Pak the Aussies just played the big points better than their oppositions.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Yep, I got that wrong. Don't know who I was looking at. But moving forward... the missing player I feel sorriest for is Jhye Richardson. He was coming along nicely, has the best 'death' variations of any of the Oz quicks and can bat handily. Hope he repairs well.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
The greatest value of Handscomb is the variety he offers - he's a completely different style of batsman to Finch, Khawaja, SMarsh, Warner or Maxwell.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
It was down to him or Zampa.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
Handscomb would on batting alone be a better option than Khawaja or Marsh down the order if they persist with warner, finch, smith at the top. He typically scores quickly and fields well
Rellum
Roar Guru
"when if any of your starting bowlers get injured they can just immediately be replaced from outside the squad anyway?" Very true. I am guessing they were going to rotate more than they have. Reality might have hit home on the quality of the bowlers they picked outside of Starc and Cummins.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
My argument would be that there's zero need for them to have 7 bowlers in the squad in the first place - why do you need 3 bowlers sitting on the sidelines each game, when if any of your starting bowlers get injured they can just immediately be replaced from outside the squad anyway? Handscomb should have been in the squad instead of Kane, and Behrendorff should have played yesterday instead of Kane.
anon
Roar Pro
Criminal that Handscomb and Hazlewood are not in this squad. Australia were the better team, on top throughout. I don't think Pakistan were ahead at any point. The win against the West Indies was lucky.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I guess the point is who else was around. I am assuming they saw Hazelwood as injured, Pattinson as too big an injury risk. I am not sure where Stanlake is at. Nesser I guess was just considered less of a bowler than Kane. Who else is there that was fit?