Australia vs. Pakistan: Winners and Losers from Cricket World Cup Quarter-Final
Half-centuries from Steven Smith and Shane Watson led Australia to a six-wicket victory over Pakistan in the third quarter-final of the 2015 Cricket World Cup in Adelaide on Friday.
After Josh Hazlewood's four for 35 in the game's first innings had helped the home side limit the unpredictable Pakistani outfit to just 213, Australia, thanks to Smith and Watson, were able to overcome some nervy moments and a tense period to book a semi-final berth against India. (You can catch our match report here.)
Across the following slides, we examine the winners and losers from Friday's clash.
Winner: Josh Hazlewood
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Josh Hazlewood's hopes of impacting the remainder of this World Cup had looked slim when Australia opted for Pat Cummins as the team's third fast bowler for the final group match against Scotland.
Indeed, it seemed Australia had settled on their lineup for the rest of the tournament that featured Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson as its fast-bowling trio.
But Hazlewood was given a surprise recall for Friday's meeting with Pakistan, with Australia's selectors giving the nod to the right-armer because of a helpful surface on offer in Adelaide.
And the move paid dividends, as Hazlewood claimed figures of four for 35 from his 10 overs, operating with accuracy and consistent swing to give his chances of playing in the semi-final against India a massive boost.
Loser: Aaron Finch
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Since thumping 135 in Australia's World Cup opener against England in Melbourne, it's been a struggle for Aaron Finch at this tournament.
Prior to Friday, the right-hander had compiled four straight scores of 24 or less, leaving him as one of the few players in Australia's lineup struggling for touch.
Unfortunately for Finch, that run of low scores continued against Pakistan, as Sohail Khan trapped him lbw for just two in the third over.
Worse still, he threw away a review by contesting the decision, despite it being a straightforward one for the umpire.
Winners: Steven Smith and Shane Watson
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After Pakistan had claimed three relatively quick wickets in the early stages of Australia's innings, it appeared that the home side were in for a real scrap to secure progression into the semi-finals.
Indeed, at 59-3 and with the impressive Wahab Riaz looking menacing, Australia couldn't afford to lose another quick wicket and expose the team's flamboyant all-rounders to a delicate situation in Adelaide.
Impressively, Steven Smith and Shane Watson ensured that didn't occur, compiling mature half-centuries to put together an 89-run stand and haul the hosts away from danger.
For Smith, it all appeared too easy, as he effortlessly stroked the ball all around the ground, upsetting the lines of Pakistan's bowlers with his shuffling across the crease to open up the leg-side.
Watson, however, had to overcome a fearsome spell from Riaz, who consistently troubled the right-hander with his pace and bounce. And though he was fortunate the get through that period, Watson eventually cruised to an unbeaten 64 to steer his team to victory.
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Winner: Wahab Riaz
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This is what cricket is about. The one-on-one duels. The battles within the battle.
On Friday in Adelaide, that came in the form of Wahab Riaz vs. Shane Watson. And it was truly engrossing.
Peppering the Australian with short ball after short ball, the Pakistani speedster put together one of the most impressive one-day spells in recent memory.
Ball after ball, the left-armer had Watson hopping, ducking, swaying and fending, spurring on his team with an in-your-face style that was absolutely compelling to watch.
And Riaz should have been rewarded for his onslaught on Watson, when the right-hander attempted a hook-shot but only managed to top-edge the stroke straight to Rahat Ali for the most simple of chances.
But he dropped it.
And with it went Pakistan's hopes of winning.
Loser: Rahat Ali
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Had Rahat Ali taken the catch off Wahab Riaz's bowling to dismiss Shane Watson, Australia would have been 83 for four in the 17th over, with only the team's all-rounders and bowlers to come.
Though the target of 214 would have still been well within reach for the home side, a wave of tension would have swept around the Adelaide Oval. Nerves would have been obvious. The pressure all on Australia.
Instead, Ali's drop released that pressure valve. All the good work that had been done by Riaz was undone. The bullish confidence of Pakistan, gone.
It was the turning point of the second innings.
Winner: Pakistan's Self-Destruct Button
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It's this team's biggest flaw. In fact, it's what defines them.
Pakistan, like no other, hit the self-destruct button in a hurry.
Here at Bleacher Report, our buildup to Friday's clash had focussed on Pakistan's volatility, the way their unpredictability makes them a devilish opponent in knockout rounds of global tournaments.
Though it so often brings about their downfall, they're a team that does extremes like no one else. And if you catch them on a good day, a rare good day, look out.
But against Australia, Pakistan couldn't conjure an inspired performance, instead reverting to that outfit we've become accustomed to that simply crumbles with the bat in hand.
Time after time in Adelaide, they threw wickets away, launching thoughtless heaves into the hands of Australian fielders while showing no understanding of the game's situation and its needs.
And though Rahat Ali's dropped catch will be a case of "what if" for Pakistan, the simple fact is they were 50-80 runs short of where they should have been with the bat.
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