Australia Just Do Enough To Make Semi-Finals

Australia Just Do Enough To Make Semi-Finals

James Hopes takes the catch to dismiss Shahid Afridi early on in Pakistan's innings.

©REUTERS/Rogan Ward (SOUTH AFRICA SPORT CRICKET) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Australia 206-8 (Hussey 64) beat
Pakistan 205-6 (Mohammad Yousuf 45) by two wickets
Scorecard
ICC Champions Trophy Group A, Centurion

Australia clinched a last-ball two-wicket win over Pakistan to see them top group A of the ICC Champions Trophy and set up a semi-final against England on Friday.

Pakistan were restricted to a score of 205 for six after they were put into bat and Australia survived a late wobble to get home with ninth-wicket pair Brett Lee and Nathan Hauritz putting on 19 runs to see off Pakistan's late challenge.

It had looked as if Australia were going to cruise home as 64 from Mike Hussey and 32 from Ricky Ponting saw them reach 157 for three before inspired bowling from Pakistan got them back into the contest.

Mohammad Asif struck with two wickets in an over and Saeed Ajmal returned two for 31 but they couldn't quite finish off the job thanks to late-order heroics from Australia's bowlers.

Earlier, Kamran Akmal (44), Mohammad Yousuf (45) and Misbah-ul-Haq (41) all made starts but their batsmen struggled against some excellent fast bowling and failed to go on and post an imposing score.

Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson took two wickets apiece, Johnson becoming the 14th Australian to reach 100 ODI wickets as Pakistan only managed to hit one six which came from the bat of Shoaib Malik, who made 27.

Pakistan, who had already qualified for the semi-finals, opened the batting with Shahid Afridi as Misbah replaced Imran Nazir and Asif replaced Mohammad Aamer.

Australia were unchanged from the side that played against India in a match that was rained off.

© Cricket World 2009

Breaking news, commentary and interviews on Cricket World Live - tune in from Monday to Friday, 10:00 - 16:00 GMT and, get the latest from Cricket World® with Facebook, twitter and YouTube and keep up with the action with the latest cricket TV highlights and interviews.