Michael Clarke appeared a relieved man yesterday after his side squeezed through to the semifinals despite a spirited fightback from Pakistan.
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Pakistan managed to make a match out of it even after a posting a low score of 213 all out, especially after Wahab Riaz’s sensational spell of fast bowling.
England star Kevin Pietersen, commentating on Australian Broadcasting Corporation, compared Riaz’s first six overs to “almost as good as any spell by (Mitch) Johnson during the Ashes” and Clarke seemed to agree.
“That’s as good as I have faced in one-day cricket for a long time,” said the Aussie captain. “There’s no doubt about it. Probably gave us a good look at what it would have been like to face Mitchell Johnson throughout the Ashes.
WATCH the epic spell that had everyone talking: http://t.co/kQimCP4QDk #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/0V5IESdRBD
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 20, 2015
“Left-arm pace is always extra tough for a right-handed batsman because the angle of the ball is at your body the whole time. He didn’t bowl too many bouncers that weren’t on the money.
“Obviously credit to Watto (Shane Watson), the way he hung in there. He had a bit of luck getting dropped at fine leg, but then the way he was able to get through that period and be there at the end shows obviously his experience and he deserves a lot of credit for that.”
Clarke lost the toss and was forced to bowl first on a wicket that looked good for batting, but led by a four-wicket effort from Josh Hazlewood and three from Mitch Starc, Australia were able to restrict Pakistan to a relatively low score.
When asked if the wicket was helpful for the seamers, Clarke added: “I think the Australian bowlers deserve a lot of credit. They all did a really good job for us, so I don’t want to take credit away from them.
“I thought the wicket was really good. I said at the start of the game that fast bowling was definitely going to play a part. Had Pakistan taken that catch of Watson at fine leg, then who knows, 215 might have been enough.
“There’s always that pressure in finals. Whatever you have to chase, runs on the board make a big difference, and fortunately we were able to make those runs tonight.”
Clarke also had some special words of appreciation for the two retiring Pakistan stars – captain Misbah-ul Haq and Shahid Afridi.
“I think they’ve both been fantastic,” he said. “Obviously, two experienced players, great ambassadors of the game.
“I think Misbah has obviously led Pakistan extremely well, and they’ve been really successful under his leadership. And what can you say about ‘Boom Boom’ Afridi? He’s one of a kind, that’s for sure. He’s an entertainer.
“I’ve loved playing against both of them. We have certainly had some tough challenges. I think Australia in general always enjoys the tough contests against Pakistan, and I think tonight you’ve seen another great contest.
“Fortunately, we were able to get over the line tonight, but credit to Misbah and his team and how they played tonight, how they fought. We had to fight for every run to chase that 215, and I wish them both well in the future.”
Richardson terms ICC chief’s comments as ‘baseless’ International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson yesterday slammed his organisation’s Bangladeshi president for questioning the integrity of umpires, saying allegations of fixing were “unfortunate” and “baseless”.
Mustafa Kamal (right) claimed decisions made by officials during Bangladesh’s 109-run loss to India in their World Cup quarter-final in Melbourne on Thursday seemed to have been “pre-arranged”. K
amal was angry that India’s Rohit Sharma, who top-scored with 137, had not been given out when he was on 90. Rohit had been caught at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Rubel Hossain, but umpires Aleem Dar and Ian Gould signalled a no-ball for what appeared to be a legitimate thigh-high delivery.
But Richardson defended Dar and Gould. “The ICC has noted Mr Mustafa Kamal’s comments, which are very unfortunate but made in his personal capacity. As an ICC president, he should have been more considerate in his criticism of ICC match officials, whose integrity cannot be questioned.
“The no-ball decision was a 50-50 call. The spirit of the game dictates that the umpire’s decision is final and must be respected,” the former South Africa wicket-keeper added.
“Any suggestion that the match officials had ‘an agenda’ or did anything other than perform to the best of their ability are baseless and are refuted in the strongest possible terms,” Richardson insisted.
Kamal said he was considering quitting his post in protest.
“As the ICC president, whatever I have to say I will say it in next meeting. It could happen that maybe I will resign,” he said on Bangladeshi television.
“I cannot represent the Indian Cricket Council. If someone has imposed a result on us, in that case no one can accept it,” he added.
