Australia take down Pakistan to advance

11:34 am on 21 March 2015

Australia have completed a six-wicket victory over Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval to book a blockbuster Cricket World Cup semi-final against reigning champions India.

Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell.

Australian cricketer Glenn Maxwell. Photo: Photosport

With Pakistan's batsmen bowled out for 213, their bowlers had little to defend and were let down by two dropped catches that reprieved batsmen Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell.

The pair would go on to build an unbeaten 68-run partnership to steer Australia to victory, as the co-hosts reeled in the final runs with over 16 overs to spare.

Watson was unbeaten on 64 and Maxwell 44 not out.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi bow out of one-day internationals in disappointment, after failing to convert starts in their team's innings.

Australia's selectors recalled paceman Josh Hazlewood in place of Pat Cummins and he took four wickets to repay their faith as he and his fellow pacemen enjoyed a dominant afternoon.

Watson batted at fifth in the order against Pakistan to continue his late-tournament resurgence and earned special praise from captain Michael Clarke.

"I've said for a long time that a good mix of youth and experience in any sport at the highest level generally has the most success," Clarke says.

"I think we've got that through our squad. Yeah, and I think Watto showed that today."

"Like I say, he had some luck getting dropped at fine leg, but then to be able to find a way to tough that out and then capitalise more importantly once he got through that spell, played his natural game, hit the ball really well. So yeah, I think his experience certainly helped him today."

Misbah is lamenting his side's poor shot selection and forecasts a grim future for Pakistan if administrators failed to crack the whip in the domestic leagues to improve standards.

Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakistan captain, Misbah-ul-Haq. Photo: AFP

"Especially we need to improve our batting. This has been now a problem for almost three, four years," he said after scoring his 3000th run as captain.

"We are not up to the mark, up to the standards, international standards. We need to really improve that."

"A lot of steps have been taken by the cricket board and just trying to develop that sort of system, fitness culture in Pakistani domestic cricket."

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