CHANDIGARH, India – Shoaib Malik this week talked about a “united” Pakistan, a country’s cricketers ignoring the ongoing rumours of infighting and the disarray that threatens to see this team and its board implode.
There was concern before the match that this Pakistan side had already checked out of the tournament, not believing or wilfully pursuing their outside chances of a spot in the semi-final.
Even coach Waqar Younis said his side did not deserve a place in the last four, speaking to press in a manner that seemed to say “khalas, our tournament is over”.
Malik, seemingly auditioning for the captaincy should Shahid Afridi indeed stand aside, said this team was not as professional as the 2009 World T20 winners but far more unified and possessing even greater skill.
But as a Usman Khawaja cut shot careered through Malik’s fingers for four in the second over it was clear this group of cricketers were all playing very different games.
Taking the new ball, Mohammad Amir ran in with purpose and extracted the first sideways movement we’ve seen in Mohali.
Faulkner and Smith help #AUS to a 21 run win over #PAK
— ICC (@ICC) March 25, 2016
LIVE: https://t.co/1Zsk3yuKaW #AUSvPAK #WT20 pic.twitter.com/4nlOLzjmcw
He was bowling a good pace and a tactical line outside off stump that saw Khawaja waft away without joy early on.
At the other end Mohammad Sami, one of few positives for Pakistan in their campaign so far, sprayed the ball all over the place.
Things didn’t get any better for Sami who gave far too much width as any pressure being built at the other end was quickly forgotten once the ball was back in his hands.
From a Pakistan perspective many were hoping Wahab Riaz could channel his fierce World Cup efforts once again and he certainly added firepower that was otherwise lacking in the attack.
Wahab beat both Khawaja and David Warner for pace to bowl the Aussie lefties but it was hard graft when runs were leaking from elsewhere.
As so often is the case with Pakistan they were playing one step forward, two steps back cricket.
It allowed Australia to go about their business without great risk, undeterred by any loss of wickets that normally slows down the opposition.
That is the case when your attack is working in tandem, bowling to exacting plans and being backed up by able fielders.
That was not the case here, Afridi speaking regularly to his players but rarely looking to carry out any sort of logistical, innovative thinking and their efforts in the field abysmal.
They chopped and changed their bowlers and once again didn’t bowl Malik despite Imad Wasim (2-31) showing the benefit of slow bowling on this deck, Sami highlighting the dangers of sporadic seam.
Credit must go to the Australian batsmen who didn’t miss a thing, captain Steve Smith leading the charge with an unbeaten 61 that oozed class and not once looked fraught as his side posted 193-4 first up.
#AUS WIN! Bring on the 'quarter-final' against #IND on Sunday... https://t.co/Dj1aKzELwn #WT20 #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/Ox82w8wuG2
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) March 25, 2016
The soon to be retired Shane Watson also bludgeoned 44 from 21 balls as Australia made the most of the buffet put in front of them.
In response the Pakistan batsmen followed the same trend.
Sharjeel Khan (30) continued his fine form with another exhibition in pulling while Ahmed Shehzad typified how out of sorts this team has been when he lollipopped Josh Hazlewood up to Nathan Coulter-Nile for 1.
Maligned by his coach for bemoaning a lack of opportunities up the order, Umark Akmal was given the nod at four and came out firing in a whirlwind 32 but played one shot too many after threatening to get his side back into the contest.
Khalid Latif (46) maintained the charge as the batsmen showed spirit but their failure to manipulate the field when boundary balls weren’t on offer once again hindered their progress.
Afridi cleared the ropes twice but again reflected his side’s inability to think big picture as he followed a superb six down the ground off Adam Zampa with a headless repeat effort that saw him stumped.
Often seen as the “unpredictable” force in world cricket this performance was all too predictable, a dated approach in the field costing Pakistan dearly as they eventually fells short by 21 runs.
