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Preview: A stumbling Australia will need to raise their game when they take on Pakistan in a must-win group match of the World Twenty20 in Mohali on Friday. The Australians handed Bangladesh a second straight defeat in their previous outing but only after surviving a scare against Mashrafe Mortaza’s depleted side. The reigning 50-over world champions have appeared tentative at best, going down to New Zealand in their opening encounter and then sweating for a win against the Tigers. [caption id=“attachment_2695450” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Australian team. Solaris[/caption] “I don’t think we have hit our 100 percent just yet,” Aussie skipper Steven Smith said Thursday at the pre-match press conference. “But I think that’s good because you want to play your best cricket at the back-end of the tournament. “I think we have to be a little bit better than we have been in the first two games. Pakistan is a quality opposition, so yeah we have to be better than we have been.” Pakistan are hurting after defeats to India and an impressive New Zealand, who have already booked their place in the semi-finals from Group B. Another defeat will finish off Pakistan’s hopes of advancing any further in the tournament, which would be a huge disappointment for a side eyeing a repeat of their 2009 title winning feat. Senior Pakistan batsman Shoaib Malik said the players were eager to improve in all departments in the crunch game against the Aussies. “There are certain areas where we need to improve our skills. Consistency is one thing which we are lacking. We are working on it,” Malik said. “As professional players, we want to give our 100 percent. Our first goal is to win tomorrow.” Under-fire Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi might be tempted to tinker his playing eleven, given neither his seamers nor spinners have looked threatening against quality opposition. Australia could consider bringing in the fit-again batsman Aaron Finch, who has yet to play largely because of the way his replacement Usman Khawaja has stood up at the top of the order. Finch, who is the top-ranked batsman in the shortest format of the game, was dumped as T20 captain in favour of Test and ODI captain Smith last month. Khawaja made a match-winning 58 against Bangladesh after scoring a handy 38 against the Black Caps. Australia: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Andrew Tye, Shane Watson, Adam Zampa Pakistan: Shahid Afridi (captain), Anwar Ali, Imad Wasim, Khalid Latif, Khurram Manzoor, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, Mohammad Irfan, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Sami, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shoaib Malik, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal, Wahab Riaz
ICC World T20 Australia vs Pakistan as it happened: Afridi and Co head out of World cup
Live updates from the ICC World T20 match, Australia vs Pakistan in Mohali
 "ICC World T20 Australia vs Pakistan as it happened: Afridi and Co head out of World cup")
Afridi goes out with a bang?!?! All his comments are going to stir up reaction, most-likely.
On that note, it’s goodbye from us here at Firstpost. But don’t go anywhere – there is another big match coming up! Adios, everyone!
Afridi: "Wo jo mera bayan that wo padhe likhe logo ke liye tha" (On the statement that he was loved more in India than Pakistan) #AUSvPAK
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) March 25, 2016
Afridi giving interview. Crowd from stands go LALA....LALA... Afridi applauds them in middle of interview. #AUSvPAK pic.twitter.com/ArxU9njBNq
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) March 25, 2016
On fitness: As a player I am fine, but not sure as a captain, says Shahid Afridi #AUSvPAK https://t.co/nGHQ3C6e28 pic.twitter.com/1vI5sAzwov
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) March 25, 2016
Afridi: I want to thank the people of Kolkata, the fans who have come from #Pak and Kashmir and also BCCI for their hospitality. #AUSvPAK
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) March 25, 2016
Shahid Afridi: We were not good enough, we didn’t play good cricket. When I go back home, I’ll take 4-5 days to take the decision, and announce it in Pakistan. As a player I’m doing fine, but as a captain I’m not sure I am.
Sets up a cracker on Sunday….
Virtual quarterfinal on Sunday... #IndvsAus. Winner takes second SF spot from this group of death. NRR not a concern anymore. #AusvPak #WT20
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) March 25, 2016
The pattern is there for all to see….
Pakistan at the #WT20
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) March 25, 2016
2007 - Final
2009 - Winners
2010- Semi-finals
2012 - Semi-finals
2014 - League phase
2016 - League phase
James Faulkner is the man of the match for his stunning figures of 4-0-27-5.
After 20 overs, Pakistan 172/8 (Shoaib Malik 40 , Mohammad Sami 4)
End of the match — and possibly end of Afridi’s career. Lala looks distraught on the sidelines.
After 19 overs, Pakistan 164/6 ( Shoaib Malik 37 , Sarfraz Ahmed (W) 2)
Malik fighting the good fight. 14 from NCN’s over, with 10 coming from the last two balls. A straight six and then a four past point.
After 18 overs,Pakistan 150/6 ( Shoaib Malik 25 , Sarfraz Ahmed (W) 0)
Faulkner’s over sucks the life out of Pakistan’s chase. 5 runs and 2 wickets. Easy, peasy, Japanesey.
After 17 overs, Pakistan 145/4 ( Khalid Latif 45 , Shoaib Malik 21)
Another 10-run over and I doubt Australia would mind that. After three good yorkers to begin with, Watson bowls a short ball that is edged to third man for four.
Lost PP, won middle overs; all down to the last 4 now
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) March 25, 2016
After 16 overs, Pakistan 135/4 ( Khalid Latif 43 , Shoaib Malik 13)
Zampa concedes 10 runs, finishes with 4-0-32-2 – very good considering the scenario. Malik spoiled the figures a bit with a huge six over long-off.
Are Pakistan still in this?
After 15 overs,Pakistan 125/4 ( Khalid Latif 41 , Shoaib Malik 5)
The req’d rate is creeping up, but that 11-run will help Pakistan. Hazlewood back into the attack, and Latif pushes to cover for four and then 1s and 2s. Neatly done.
If indeed that was Afridi's last innings, it captured his career rather well. Excitement but a touch short of what was possible.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 25, 2016
14 off 7 balls with 2 sixes. #AUSvPAK https://t.co/nGHQ3C6e28 pic.twitter.com/lJXWxVazKF
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) March 25, 2016
After 14 overs, Pakistan 114/4 ( Khalid Latif 33 , Shoaib Malik 2)
Malik is the new batsman in. Target growing out of reach for Pakistan here.
OUT! SIX AND OUT! And is that the last we’ll see of Afridi?! First ball, hits Zampa out of the park with a striaght hit, tries to repeat it next ball but is stumped. Zampa doing the trick for Australia yet again
After 13 overs, Pakistan 104/3 ( Khalid Latif 31 , Shahid Afridi (C) 8)
Afridi lives by the sword and dies by the sword. A horribly mistimed pull falls safe. Latif gets two boundaries in that over one over midwicket and then a pull shot too.
After 12 overs, Pakistan 94/3 ( Khalid Latif 22 , Shahid Afridi (C) 7)
Shahid Afridi is in the house! It was a super over from Maxwell with 4 dot balls and Latif gets off strike with a single, Afridi then shuffles past leg stump and hits one over long one for his first six
OUT! Zampa, you beauty. There are very few better sights in cricket than a leg spinner outfoxing a batsman. Zampa loops one, but it falls short a good length, Akmal is early into the sweep and is bowled.
You know what that means?
Lala in the house!
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) March 25, 2016
After 10 overs, Pakistan 79/2 ( Khalid Latif 20 , Umar Akmal 26)
Maxwell into the attack and goes for just six singles. Smith will be delighted with that.
After 9 overs, Pakistan 73/2 (Khalid Latif 17 , Umar Akmal 23)
Now time for Latif to join in on the fun. Faulkner goes full and Latif clears his front leg and deposits over midwicket for six.
Chance of winning
6th over: Despite some hitting from Sharjeel, Australia managed to dismiss both openers within the Powerplay with the run rate under 7 an over, taking their COW to 62%.
Pakistan learning from the mistakes against New Zealand it seems…
I can live in a world where Ukmal gets out attempting a big shot but not in a world where he can't hit a boundary in 26 balls.
— Rehan Ulhaq (@Rehan_ulhaq) March 25, 2016
After 8 overs, Pakistan 62/2 (Khalid Latif 10 , Umar Akmal 20)
Adam Zampa, PoTM from Australia’s win over Bangaldesh, is into the attack and concedes just 4 runs. With two right handers in, the leg spinner will be a useful weapon for Smith to keep the rate down.
After 7 overs, Pakistan 58/2 ( Khalid Latif 8 , Umar Akmal 18)
BIG OVER for Pakistan! Watson comes into the attack and Umar Akmal is on the move. 17 runs from it – 6, 4, 4 froM Umar Akmal. First a lusty blow over midwicket for 6, then pulled for 4 followed by an offdrive for 4.
After 5 overs, Pakistan 36/1 ( Sharjeel Khan 26 , Khalid Latif 8)
Now Latif chips in with a boundary of his own. A short ball is pulled straight between the bowler and mid-on for his first four.
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