Tag T20 World Cup 2010

A cricket match isn't over untill Mr cricket is still at the crease..

4 down for 62 in 9th over and only 105 board when David Hussey departed in 13th over, Aussie dream of claiming their first t20 world cup was nearly over yesterday at St Lucia in this semifinal encounter against defending champions Pakistan but Michael Hussey had only made an entrance.

A nervous starter, specially against spinnners, Hussey made a plan with Cameron White for him to counter attack and himself to rotate strike. 85 required off last 7 overs, White had already smashed 2 sixes and he punched 3 more, rather rediculously, bringing equation down to 48 off last 18 balls.

Michael Hussey, a brilliant game reader, had worked out the short 64 yard fine leg baundary and strong wind over head and used it perfectly to hit Pak captain Shahid Afridi for back to back sixes. Now at the departure of White, Hussey had to take more risk, specially after young Steven Smith was stumped off the first ball of last 3 overs. No.8 Mitchell Johnson did his part, cracked a fours off first ball he faced and then a single off second ball, giving strike back to Hussey who then added a six, a double and a single to make 14 runs off the over as well as keep strike.

34 needed off last 2 overs, Mohammad Aamer didn't bowl a perticular bad 19th over but Hussey paddled two fours at the beining and end along with fours doubles that aussie pair ran thanks to some poor ground fielding from Pakistan.

Saeed Ajmal, easily the best Pakistani bowler of the match, decieving batsmen with his flight and doosra's, was obvious choice to bowl the last over of the match out of which Ausies required 17 more runs. Johnson edged a single and then Hussey was ready for a faster delivery from the spinner. pitched short, Hussey pulled back to back sixes, and then a fours and then again a six to script a memorable win for his country. And with it, Australia made it to their first ever T20 world cup final after exiting from semis in first edition and failing to cross second round in second edition.

Australia made last 53 runs off just 16 balls!

Earlier, Pakistan were asked to bat by Australian captain Michael Clarke which wasn't a very strange decision going by clowds overhead and rain in the air as well as moisture on pitch. Aussies expected their pace trio of Dirk Nannes, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson to blow Pak batting apart but what opening pair Kamran Akmal and Salman Butt were up to the task.

Akmal and Butt negotiated first two overs quietly and then Akmal started to accelerate. it worked out like a dream, and Pakistan were roaring for a huge total at 10 over mark when scoreboard read 85 for just 1 wkt. Junior Akmal, Umar, was promoted up the order and he used his experience of playing Aussie pacers in their backyard just 4 months ago to good effect, hitting 4 sixes in his unbeaten half century to push Pakistan to the highest total of the tournament so far (equaling with England vs West Indies).

The scores

Pakistan 191 for 6 wickets in 20 overs
U Akmal 56*, K Akmal 50, Salman Butt 32
Australia 197 for 7 wickets in 19.5 overs
Mike Hussey 60*, C White 43, M Aamer 3/35
Full scorecard : Pak v Aus, 2nd semifinal, WT20.

Aussies unbeaten

for 12 twenty20 internationals.. they've beaten Pakistan and West Indies trice, India, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka once with one tied and 1 no result. This is longest undefeated run by any team in international t20s.

Michael Hussey

scored 11th fastest fifty in twenty20 cricket, coming off just 22 balls. Yuvraj Singh of India leads the table with 12 ball 50 followed by David Warner's 18 ball knock.