3rd Quarter Final - Australia v Pakistan (20th March)

[YorksLanka]

Amazing performance by Wahab. Hope he can carry it on into the future.

superb spell of fast bowling and to be fair to Watson, he managed to get thru it..Passion that Wahab showed was awesome..

 

[veganbob]

No, Australia were still favorites. They have one the deepest batting line ups, all with game changing abilities. Not to mention the target was super low. A collapse can happen with any team, some more so than others.

In these conditions, only SA are probably at the same level potential wise. Even Johnson and Starc can bat a bit.

Disagree. Had watson gone at 85/4 i would have backed pakistan to win it. Yeah its the deepest lineup easily but apart from clarke and ssmith rest are just big hitters and while its still a good batting line up its weak by aussie standards. I can see them crumbling on a chase. Probably the best lineup to have if you are 160/3 with 20 to go setting a target. But in a low scoring pressure chase vs good bowling atm india, nz and sa all have more composed middle order batsmen.

So imo i couldnt see maxwell faulkner etc dig aus out of a hole yesterday.

 

[BigBrother]

Disagree. Had watson gone at 85/4 i would have backed pakistan to win it. Yeah its the deepest lineup easily but apart from clarke and ssmith rest are just big hitters and while its still a good batting line up its weak by aussie standards. I can see them crumbling on a chase. Probably the best lineup to have if you are 160/3 with 20 to go setting a target. But in a low scoring pressure chase vs good bowling atm india, nz and sa all have more composed middle order batsmen.

So imo i couldnt see maxwell faulkner etc dig aus out of a hole yesterday.

It's been weak compared to Australian standards since 2007. I think this is the best line up they have had since those days, especially as far as form goes. They are all capable of hanging in there and playing big innings and I think they have shown that enough times to warrant respect. Not everybody chokes the way SA have a tendency to.

Also, the target was extremely low no scoreboard pressure and the rest of the bowling was pretty ordinary. It looked like they were throwing pies to Watson, Smith, Maxwell after that spell. Apart from that Maxwell shot, even Wahab himself got more or less worked over on his return spell. At the the end of the day they beat him under 34 overs. That's a thrashing.

SA's choking needs no mention, NZ showed it against both Australia and worse Bangladesh, and India in the tri-series. So no, I don't think you can say they are more composed by any means with a guarantee.

 

[indian_tiger]

Pakistan lose again, go back home, practise and come back in 4 years

 

[Jimbo the giant]

That drop was truely dire. The average international fielder should catch that 100x out of 100.

Pakistan are a team that play on emotion, imo a drop so simple would effect them far greater than most other teams.

I thought the game was over straight after the drop but had it been taken Pakistan would have been heavy favourites. Not a guaranteed win but Wahab would have got even more inspiration.

Aussie are still cup favs but nowhere near unbeatable as NZ proved in the group stage. I don't reckon they are more than 2/3 favs against India, SA or NZ.

 

[Burgey]

That was such a compelling game to watch. That spell from Wahab was just so ****ing good. Hope he kicks on and becomes a gun for Pakistan in all forms.

And credit to Watson who gutsed it out so hard. Probably his most important odi innings for australia.

 

[Furball]

Yeah, congrats to Watson for blindly fending at balls and trying pull shots with men back. Top stuff that.

 

[TC123]

Pakistan haven't been flash all tournament and had Aussie on the ropes had the catches been taken. You're not as good as you think you are Australia

 

[TNT]

Pakistan haven't been flash all tournament and had Aussie on the ropes had the catches been taken. You're not as good as you think you are Australia

What match were you watching, Pakistan never had Australia on the ropes. Wahab bowled some good balls and a good spell but Australia were never on the ropes, that's never in like never ever ever.

 

[Black_Warrior]

Afridi's spell was so pathetic as well. Pakistan are lucky to be getting rid of him. Only Wahab made me feel bad for the men in green.

Lucky? You know how many times Afridi has retired before only to come back? I don't want to get my hopes high.

 

[Jimbo the giant]

What match were you watching, Pakistan never had Australia on the ropes. Wahab bowled some good balls and a good spell but Australia were never on the ropes, that's never in like never ever ever.

Do you even know what on the ropes means? Its pretty much just a pressure situation. Not down and out or anything.

Maxwell would have been under huge pressure, unlike when he came in 60 runs later

 

[Jono]

At the end of the day Pakistan are a joke of a batting and fielding side. You don't make semi finals when you can't do two of the three key aspects of the ****ing game. **** em.

 

[Jono]

And **** maqsood for refusing to field at bat pad and making 41 year old Misbah, as captain, to do it. Pakistan don't deserve a man like Misbah. Maqsood should be dropped for that.

 

[Debris]

Do you even know what on the ropes means? Its pretty much just a pressure situation. Not down and out or anything.

Maxwell would have been under huge pressure, unlike when he came in 60 runs later

on the ropes (def.) - On the verge of defeat or collapse, helpless

- in a desperate or hopeless position; close to defeat or failure

I don't think that phrase means what you think it means.

 

[TNT]

Pakistan haven't been flash all tournament and had Aussie on the ropes had the catches been taken. You're not as good as you think you are Australia

Tried to work out where this come from, are you a small man by any chance TC123, I mean like 5'1 or 5'2.

 

[Adders]

Tried to work out where this come from, are you a small man by any chance TC123, I mean like 5'1 or 5'2.

I don't agree with TC123's post.........but this is a really gash reply.

 

[BigBrother]

And **** maqsood for refusing to field at bat pad and making 41 year old Misbah, as captain, to do it. Pakistan don't deserve a man like Misbah. Maqsood should be dropped for that.

Yeah that was pathetic, credit to the good man for doing that, that showed great character.

 

[social]

Yeah, congrats to Watson for blindly fending at balls and trying pull shots with men back. Top stuff that.

Definitely more good luck (and a truck load of it) than good management

Thought that Ganguly's summary was spot on i.e. poor batting not to try something different (e.g. duck, sway, hook, even let it hit you) when it was only luck that allowed him to survive previously

 

[Tangles]

Looked for highlights on CA site and they don't work. Fail. Found some on espn though. That bouncer that almost hit Watto and was followed by a spray was great. Wtf was Maxwell doing with the back away tennis smash ****?

 

[Daemon]

What's the deal with Afridi? He hasn't been bowling much different in this tournament than he normally does has he. Is it the pitches?