World Cup 2015: Wahab-Watson battle dominates Australia's win over Pakistan

[caption id=“attachment_2165047” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Australia overcame to a fiery spell from fast bowler Wahab Riaz to record an entertaining six-wicket win over Pakistan in the World Cup quarter-final at the Adelaide Oval on Friday. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2165049” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Pakistan, who won the toss and elected to bat, were shot out for 213, with one ball to spare, as fast bowler Josh Hazlewood grabbed four wickets and Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell took two each. Haris Sohail’s 41 was the top score. Three other batsmen settled down to reach 20 but were unable to build on their starts. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2165053” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  The co-hosts, chasing Pakistan’s modest 213 all out, were reduced to 59 for three in the 11th over before Steve Smith (65) and Shane Watson (64 not out) swung the match around with a fourth-wicket stand of 89. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2165051” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Australia’s eighth consecutive win over Pakistan on their own soil set up an enticing semi-final clash against defending champions India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2165059” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Shane Watson of Australia plays a short pitched ball from Wahab Riaz of Pakistan during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between Australian and Pakistan at Adelaide Oval. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2165057” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Watson hit the winning boundary after a tense start to Australia’s chase saw left-armer Wahab remove David Warner and skipper Michael Clarke in his first two overs. But two dropped catches cost Pakistan dearly. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2165063” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Glenn Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 44 off 29 balls with five fours and two sixes as Australia recovered to coast home in the 34th over in front of a full house of nearly 47,000 spectators. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2165061” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Costly drop!!! Sohail Khan of Pakistan drops a catch from Glenn Maxwell. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2165065” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Maxwell sent Australia cruising to victory with a typically aggressive knock before Watson hit the clinching boundary, with Pakistan left ruing the lack of runs on the board by their batsmen. Getty Images[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_2165055” align=“alignnone” width=“940”]  Australia’s eighth consecutive win over Pakistan on their own soil set up an enticing semi-final clash against defending champions India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday. Getty Images[/caption]