Aussies survive jitters to set up England clash

Published on Wednesday 30 September 2009 23:45

ASHES rivals England and Australia will clash for the 15th time in under three months after the Aussies sealed a final-ball, two-wicket win over Pakistan to book a place in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.

Australia, the reigning champions and unbeaten before yesterday's match in Centurion after a win and a washout, were cruising to their victory target of 206 before late wickets meant a scrambled single off the last ball secured the win.

Ricky Ponting's side will play England in the first semi-final at Centurion tomorrow. Pakistan are also through and they play New Zealand in Johannesburg on Saturday in the second semi.

Australia sent Pakistan in to bat and restricted them to 205 for six in 50 overs, and then looked in firm control of the run chase while Mike Hussey was at the crease as the left-hander breezed to 64 off 87 deliveries. He was sent packing by a perfect yorker from Rana Naved ul-Hasan, sparking a middle-order collapse which saw Australia lose four wickets for 13 runs as they crashed to 187 for eight.

Brett Lee (12 not out) and Nathan Hauritz (9 not out), however, kept their cool as they added 19 runs for the ninth wicket, scoring 18 off the last three overs, and four off the 50th over, to seal a thrilling victory.

Returning seamer Mohammad Asif threatened to snatch a dramatic victory when he dismissed James Hopes (1) and Cameron White (5) in the 42nd over to finish with two for 34.

Asif was playing his first ODI in over a year, having completed a one-year ban for doping earlier this month.

Off-spinner Saeed Ajmal also produced a top-class spell of two for 31 in ten overs as Australia came perilously close to making a hash of their run chase.

Pakistan's total was built around a fifth-wicket partnership of 63 off 88 balls between Mohammad Yousuf (45) and Misbah ul-Haq (41).

Misbah needed just 53 deliveries for his runs but was dismissed in the final over when he stepped into his own stumps with his back foot as Shane Watson bowled a wide.

Kamran Akmal batted aggressively at the top of the innings to score 44, but the uneven bounce did not suit his stroke-playing intentions.