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Cricket PlayersAustralia vs Pakistan Highlights, ICC World Cup 2019: Aussies hold their nerve to defeat Pakistan
Highlights: Pat Cummins shone with the ball for Australia with figures of 3/33 as Australia beat Pakistan by 41 runs in Taunton. Pakistan were bowled out for 266, while chasing a target of 308. Earlier, Rain stayed away, Sarfaraz won toss and elected to field on a green track and under grey skies. His bowlers were erratic, David Warner and Aaron Finch raced away and screamed past 100. Warner scored his century, the other batsmen came in, biffed a few and then fell away. Pakistan made a comeback in the final phase of the innings as Australia fell away towards the end.
22:29 hrs IST
Australia win by 41 runs
Maxwell picks up the ball and hits the stumps as Afridi and Sarfaraz look to scamper for a single. Pakistan are bowled out for 266 and lose the match by 41 runs. The men in yellow kept picking up wickets at crucial moments and got over the line.
22:26 hrs IST
Starc strikes twice
A fast and fiery yorker is too much for Mohammad Amir. The ball hits his bat and then crashes onto the stumps. Pakistan lose their ninth wicket.
22:21 hrs IST
Australia take a chance, get a wicket
Starc induces an edge from Riaz and goes up for an appeal. The umpire turns the Australians down. Thereafter, Finch asks for a review with one second left on the clock. Snicko shows that Riaz edged the ball, even though there was no sound of ball hitting the bat. Australia’s review pays off as Pakistan lose their eighth wicket. They need 43 runs from 33 balls.
22:12 hrs IST
Pakistan chip away
Wahab Riaz nears fifty as Pakistan continue to chip away against Australia. They need 51 runs from 42 balls. It’s down to Starc and Richardson to save Australia.
22:02 hrs IST
Maxwell concedes 14 runs
Riaz smacks Maxwell for a six and a four as Pakistan take 14 runs from the 41st over. The need 64 runs from 54 balls. Pakistan are right back in the contest.
21:54 hrs IST
Riaz strikes a six
Pakistan are unpredictable!! They can do anything. Riaz smacks Coulter-Nile for a six and moves to 18 off 17 balls. They need 79 runs from 65 balls, can Riaz and Sarfaraz pull this off?
21:42 hrs IST
Australia inch closer to victory
Pakistan are struggling with Sarfaraz and Riaz in the middle. They need 100 runs from 83 balls with three wickets in hand. Australia have to just carry out the finishing touches.
21:32 hrs IST
Hasan Ali’s cameo comes to an end
Hasan Ali kept the Pakistan fans at the edge of their seats with two fours in a row off Kane Richardson’s bowling, but in the very next ball, Ali presents a catch to Khawaja and gets out for 32 runs. Pakistan: 200/7 in 34 overs.
21:25 hrs IST
Hasan Ali keeps Pakistan’s hopes alive
Hasan Ali strikes three sixes and keeps Pakistan in the game. This is Australia’s game to lose after reducing their opponents to 160/6.
21:14 hrs IST
Pakistan continue to crumble
Asif Ali nicks a delivery off Kane Richardson and gets out for 5 runs. Pakistan crumble to 160/6 in 30 overs. The Australian bowlers have been very disciplined in their last few overs.
21:05 hrs IST
Finch and Cummins pick up wickets
Pakistan have lost this match already! First, Hafeez fails to get hold of a full toss from Finch and gets out caught in the deep and then Carey takes a superb catch to dismiss Malik in the next over. Pakistan: 147/5 in 27.4 overs.
20:51 hrs IST
Imam scores fifty and departs
Imam steps out and smashes Coulter-Nile for a boundary. He brings up his half-century off 74 balls. However, in the next over, he guides a delivery off Cummins to Carey behind the stumps. Imam departs for 53. Pakistan: 136/3 in 25.1 overs.
20:48 hrs IST
Hafeez and Imam keep Pakistan in the game
Hafeez and Imam are stringing a fantastic partnership. The Pakistan batters have scored 75 runs off 82 balls so far. Pakistan: 131/2 in 24.3 overs.
20:34 hrs IST
Coulter-Nile concedes five runs
Coulter-Nile keeps Imam and Hafeez in check, but isn’t able to dismiss any of them. Pakistan move to 115/2 in 21 overs.
20:23 hrs IST
Imam takes on Richardson
Imam takes on Richardson and hits him for a boundary. The opener and Hafeez have put on 52 runs from 51 balls. Pakistan: 108/2 in 19.2 overs.
20:14 hrs IST
Hafeez smashes Maxwell
Hafeez has decided to open his arms now, he smashes Maxwell for a four and six as Pakistan move to 95/2 in 17.3 overs. Pakistan are on track at the moment.
20:02 hrs IST
Imam holds the key for Pakistan
Imam has got himself in and has assessed the conditions so far. He has scored 27 runs off 44 balls. The opener will have to get a big score for Pakistan today.
19:51 hrs IST
Coulter-Nile dismisses Azam for 30 runs
Azam takes on Coulter-Nile and the ball sails to Richardson in the deep. The Pakistan batter departs for 30 runs as Australia make their way back into the match. Pakistan: 56/2 in 10.5 overs.
19:46 hrs IST
Pakistan reach 51/1 in 10 overs
Kane Richardson rattled Imam and Azam with swing and bounce, but the latter still managed a boundary off the last delivery of the 10th over as Pakistan move to 51/1 in 10 overs.
19:34 hrs IST
Imam strikes Starc for three boundaries
Imam is on a roll here. He strikes Starc for three boundaries as Pakistan move to 30/1 in 6 overs. The Aussies have to break this partnership between Imam and Azam quickly.
19:24 hrs IST
Imam and Azam power Pakistan on
Imam and Azam are pouncing on every loose delivery and putting them away for boundaries. These two look dangerous for Pakistan at the moment. Pakistan: 14/1 in 4.2 overs.
19:14 hrs IST
Fakhar departs for a duck
Fakhar cuts a delivery from Cummins straight to Richardson at deep square-leg. The Pakistan opener goes for a duck. Pakistan: 2/1 in 2.1 overs.
19:10 hrs IST
Pakistan openers start cautiously
Imam-ul-Haq and Fakhar Zaman have started cautiously against Pat Cummins in the first over. It’s not going to be an easy chase for Pakistan against a terrific bowling attack. Pakistan: 2/0 in 1 over.
18:36 hrs IST
Brilliant Amir, stunning performance
Rain stayed away, Sarfaraz won toss and elected to field on a green track and under grey skies. His bowlers were erratic, David Warner and Aaron Finch raced away and screamed past 100. Warner scored his century, the other batsmen came in, biffed a few and then fell away. Pakistan made a comeback in the final phase of the innings as Australia fell away towards the end. This pitch still has assistance, will this score be enough?
18:34 hrs IST
Carey departs
Full ball, hitting Carey flush on the back pad and is given out. He refers, but replays prove he was stone dead. Amir has been brilliant and Australia have really collapsed here. All the momentum is in Pakistan’s favour
18:26 hrs IST
Cummins bounced out
The collapse continues. Hasan Ali bangs the ball in, Cummins arches back, tries to ramp it over the keeper, the ball takes the gloves and he has to depart. This has been some effort by the Pakistan bowlers. Australia have lost all the momentum here and even the sun has come out to see them wither away!
18:22 hrs IST
Coulter-Nile departs
Another slog, this time the ball kisses the inside edge and Sarfaraz takes the catch. Pakistan have pulled things back by picking up wickets. Australia will not be too happy with the position they have put themselves in after such a platform
18:13 hrs IST
Marsh has to walk back
Pakistan’s fight back continues, Amir’s brilliant day continues. Pitched up ball on off, Marsh wants to biff it down town, does not get the right timing and he can only offer a catch to Shoaib Malik who is stationed at long on. Australia are losing momentum here as they aim for quick runs
18:05 hrs IST
Khawaja falls
Another soft dismissal, this time Khawaja falls. Length ball on off stump, Khawaja drives on the up and Wahab at mid-off dives and latches on to the catch. Australia are losing momentum and Pakistan will be happy pulling things back.
17:44 hrs IST
Warner slogs, Warner departs
It has been the trend today, batsmen looking to take down the bowlers, they want to clatter them over mid-wicket, but are caught. The latest casualty is David Warner, he wants to smoke Shaheen somewhere, but miscues the slog and the ball goes across to Imam at deep mid-wicket, who takes the catch!
17:37 hrs IST
Another catch shelled
Short and wide from Wahab, Warner rises and almost guides it to Asif Ali at third man who settles down under it and then drops the ball. This is a huge moment in the match, Wahab is absolutely gutted, he is kicking the turf, look away Asif, look away!
17:33 hrs IST
100 for Warner
Another lovely ball by Afridi, lands it on a length and gets it to seam away just a touch, Warner drives, ball takes the outside edge and it flies between the keeper and a wide first-slip. Runs away for a four too, a century has been raised and Warner takes off his helmet and jumps like he usually celebrates. This has been a chancy, lucky, and gutsy innings. He has to stay put and lead Australia’s charge as they aim fir a big score
17:26 hrs IST
Maxwell departs
Well, 10 balls, 20 runs, and Maxwell departs. Shaheen finally has some reward for his efforts. Full ball aimed for the stumps, Maxwell wants to deposit it over the boundary at mid-wicket, does not connect and the stumps are rattled. Another batsman departs trying to slog a ball over mid-wicket!
17:20 hrs IST
Maxwell takes Hafeez to the cleaners
After a brief pause, Australia are racing along and this, it is Glenn Maxwell who is leading the charge. Pulls a short ball, and then holds his shape to thump a full ball over long off. 16 runs from that over, Australia on the move again. Sarfaraz has got through the 10 overs of his fifth bowler.
17:06 hrs IST
Smith slogs, Smith departs
Steve Smith comes racing down the track, he wanted to clobber Hafeez over deep-midwicket, ends up miscuing it and the ball goes up miles in the air. Asif Ali jobs back from cover and takes an easy catch. Australia want to be ultra-aggressive and have lost both their wickets trying to tee off!
16:51 hrs IST
Amir is getting the ball to talk
Bashing the ball on a length, getting it to nip either ways, hits Warner on the pads and for some reason they review it. Well, the impact was on the fifth stump and the third ump says, not out as well. He then gets the ball to deviate away and beats the prod of Warner. Good spell by the left-armer
16:37 hrs IST
Finch out
Amir, brought back into the attack, has taken out Finch, A length ball angled across the right-hander and Finch wants to clobber it over mid-wicket. Leading edge taken and Mohammad Hafeez runs back at covers to take the catch. Finally, Pakistan have their opening wicket. After a blazing start, Australia lose their first wicket
16:34 hrs IST
Lack of discipline
Dropped catches, no balls, sloppy efforts on the field, this has not been a disciplined effort by Pakistan and the Australian openers have flown past them.
16:22 hrs IST
Better over
Hafeez has bowled a much better over here. Pakistan have been put under extreme pressure and they have to break this stand. Well, Warner and Finch have dropped anchor, this could be a long 50 overs for Pakistan if these two continue in this vein
16:11 hrs IST
100 raised
Hafeez has been introduced into the attack and Aaron Finch has taken him to the cleaners. 2 fours, 1 six and Australia have raised across to 100. Pakistan under pressure here, Australia are rattling along
15:55 hrs IST
Finch has been dropped
Oh dear, Pakistan! Wahab bowls the perfect length outside the off stump, Finch drives with stagnant feet, ball takes the edge and goes across to Asif Ali at first slip who shells an easy catch. This is certainly not want Pakistan would have wanted
15:43 hrs IST
50 has been raised
The pitch has a green tinge, and the conditions are gloomy, but then Pakistan have not been able to extract any seam or swing so far and their discipline has been awry. Australia have raced to 50 and the openers are looking good now. Pakistan need to build dots here
15:29 hrs IST
Pakistan bowlers struggling
There is assistance on offer, the pitch has a green tinge, but the Pakistan bowlers have not found their rhythm so far. They are either too short, or a drifting down the leg side, Australia unscathed and looking to see through this phase
15:16 hrs IST
Positive start
The conditions are favouring the bowlers, but so far, the Pakistan bowlers have not been able to build pressure or create enough chances. Shaheen is too short and he is pumped. This a good start for Australia
15:06 hrs IST
Warner starts with a 4
FOUR! David Warner gets off the mark with a nice short-arm pull shot to the right of the fine leg fielder. Shaheen Afridi just strayed down the leg side and Warner did not need a second invitation, he latched on to it in a flash.
15:04 hrs IST
A maiden to start
Fantastic start by Mohammad Amir. He got the ball to move away from Finch on a multiple occasions, the Australian captain played and missed but managed to survive. A maiden to start the proceedings.
14:59 hrs IST
All set for live action
The players are out there in the centre. Aaron Finch will take the first ball and it will be Mohammad Amir with the first over for Pakistan. Here we go!
14:37 hrs IST
Australia playing XI
1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch (capt), 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Shaun Marsh, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Kane Richardson
14:37 hrs IST
Pakistan playing XI
1 Imam-ul-Haq, 2 Fakhar Zaman, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Mohammad Hafeez, 5 Sarfaraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 6 Shoaib Malik, 7 Asif Ali, 8 Wahab Riaz, 9 Hasan Ali, 10 Shaheen Afridi, 11 Mohammad Amir
14:35 hrs IST
Pakistan bowl first
Sarfaraz Ahmed has called correctly, Pakistan will bowl first. The pitch has moisture, the forecast is not too great, so it was a no-brainer for Pakistan. Shadab misses out and Shaheen Afridi replaces him.
14:20 hrs IST
Pitch report
It’s very cold and overcast, but no signs of rain yet. The dimensions - 74m from river end. Smaller boundaries behind - 61 and 59 meters. Small square boundaries at 60 and 67 meters. Rather small boundaries. A good surface, a nice grass covering, quite green, but quite dry under the surface. Extra pace and bounce for the pacers, and once you get in as a batsman, you’re in for a high-scoring game.
14:06 hrs IST
Gloomy but dry
Right, we have the first visuals from the ground and well, it is gloomy, but there is no rain, AT THE MOMENT. After two days, we might have more chances of action than rain
13:34 hrs IST
Australia’s predicted XI
After suffering a 36-run defeat against India last week on Sunday, the defending champions Australia suffered another setback on Tuesday with allrounder Marcus Stoinis getting ruled out due to a side strain. The side has called Mitchell Marsh as a cover option to England, as a back-up all-rounder option.
Here is Australia’s predicted XI for the match.
13:15 hrs IST
Will Smith be jeered again?
Sarfaraz Ahmed insists Pakistan fans won’t boo shamed Australia star Steven Smith during their World Cup match in Taunton on Wednesday.
Pakistan fans are expected to make up a large chunk of the crowd in the west country and there are fears they might follow the example of the India supporters who jeered Smith at the Oval on Sunday.
But Pakistan captain Sarfaraz says his compatriots will not resort to such tactics.
13:14 hrs IST
Pakistan predicted XI
Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed denied his team carry any scars from their 5-0 rout by Australia in March and is confident of victory in Wednesday’s World Cup contest against the reigning champions.
Here is the side Sarfaraz could pick for the match against Australia.
13:12 hrs IST
Top five player battles
Australia will look to bounce back from their crushing defeat at the hands of India when they take on unpredictable Pakistan in a blockbuster ICC World Cup 2019 contest at the County Ground in Taunton on Wednesday.
As for Pakistan, their last game was washed out due to rain and they will look for a similar performance which they put up against hosts England. Let’s take a look at some important player battles that could decide the outcome of the match.
13:10 hrs IST
Boisterous Pakistan, edgy Australia
Australia’s bubble was burst in the match against India, their shortcomings with the bat and ball were both exposed and yet, there were positives. The side now needs to identify the moments and go hard at them with their strengths. For Pakistan, this World Cup is just another world event where their mercurial nature is enamouring people. Loss to West Indies and then a win against England, they are a side which appear to more confident. Both sides will also have to counter the threat of nature and the short boundaries on offer.
