Misbah settles Pakistan nerves

Misbah-ul-Haq deals with a short delivery en route to an unbeaten 66

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Pakistan have one foot in the semi-finals of the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 after sealing a memorable six-wicket victory over Australia in the Super Eights in Johannesburg.

A solid if unspectacular batting display from Australia set Pakistan a target of 165 for victory, which they duly reached with five balls to spare thanks to a superb unbroken century stand between Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq.

They came together with Pakistan reeling on 46 for four, but batted with immense assurity and common sense to add 119 in under 19 overs.

Captain Malik finished on 52 not out from 38 balls while Misbah was named man of the match for his unbeaten 66.

Stuart Clark impressed with the ball for Australia, finishing with 3-27 after taking the early wickets of openers Imran Nazir (10) and Mohammad Hafeez (15).

But the Australia attack had no answer to the Pakistan middle order and victory was secured when Andrew Symonds sent down a wide.

Australia made a sluggish start to their innings as opener Matthew Hayden fell for just one before Adam Gilchrist went for 24 to leave them 32 for two.

An injury to Ricky Ponting did not help matters, the captain requiring a runner due to a leg problem before Hafeez bowled him for 27.

Michael Hussey and Brad Hodge steadied the innings with contributions of 37 and 36 respectively, but Australia’s total proved within Pakistan’s reach.

Shoaib Malik helps carry Pakistan to a memorable victory © Getty Images

“We always felt [the total] was a little bit shy,” admitted Gilchrist.

“It always felt like it was a reasonable wicket. We’ve seen the way the ball gets to the boundary rope here.

“We just felt that in those conditions we were probably about 15 or 20 [runs] short to really walk out [for the Pakistan innings] with a confident step.”

Shoaib and Misbah turned the game on its head in the 14th over, bludgeoning 17 runs from a Symonds over to give them a victory target of 31 from 30 balls.

Gilchrist refused to blame the bowling attack for their failure to break through.

“I don’t think our bowlers let us down - it was with the bat where we let ourselves down today.”

Shoaib was delighted to secure a victory that almost guarantees Pakistan a berth in the final four, but at one stage he feared Australia might run away with it in the closing overs.

However, the final three overs saw Australia rack up just 14 runs as the Pakistan attack stifled their middle order.

“After the 16th over I thought they might make 200 plus, but I must give credit to Umar Gul and Shahid Afridi - the way they were bowling was superb,” said Shoaib.