MOHALI // Australia got themselves into good shape for what now is a virtual World Twenty20 quarter-final with India on Sunday, with a comfortable 21-run win over Pakistan.
Australia’s batting finally came good on Friday in Mohali, and most pleasingly, the captain Steve Smith was at the centre of it. Smith made a cool 43-ball 61, around which Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson powered Australia to 193.
Against a batting order as weak as Pakistan’s, that was always going to be more than enough but a James Faulkner five-fer ensured Australia stay on point for Sunday’s game.
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The problem with the batting had not been the personnel as much as how to put them together.
On Friday, Australia brought in Aaron Finch and moved Watson down in the middle, with David Warner.
“I’m not a selector, we just get a tap on the shoulder as players,” Faulkner said. “The beauty of our batting order is we have so many players who can bat from one to six.
“It’s hard for spots and you’ve got to get the right balance and mix, so today it worked beautifully to get 193. Don’t think too many things will change [for tomorrow’s game].”
Faulkner’s wickets came from a combination of his own skills in the format and Pakistan’s headlong rush into what was looking increasingly like a futile chase towards the end.
“I think in the end I got pretty lucky, I got a couple in the end so I’m not too worried about that,” Faulkner said. “I think its pretty basic for all bowlers in T20 these days.
“You’ve got to have variations and change of pace, a good yorker and bouncer. If you can execute them you can make it harder for the batsmen. At the same time he can execute and you can still travel round the park.”
After a nervy start, Australia have now won two games in a row, which sets up tomorrow’s encounter with the hosts deliciously.
India beat Australia 3-0 in Australia at the start of the year and will start favourites here as well, emboldened no doubt by what is likely to be another surface given to spin.
“I think we play really good cricket against each other,” Faulkner said. “They’re obviously a really good team.
“I think we are as well, so everybody is going to be tuned in to it in 48 hours time. It will be a really good game.”
osamiuddin@thenational.ae
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