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Preview: Australia enter their World Cup quarter-final as runaway favourites against Pakistan in Adelaide on Friday, but will be wary of an enigmatic team that have proved a major thorn in their side at past tournaments. Australia boast 11 wins from their past 13 one-day internationals against Pakistan, but it was the 2011 World Cup loss in Colombo that will be remembered grimly by a number of players in Michael Clarke’s side. As triple defending champions, a Ricky Ponting-led Australia came into the 2011 pool match riding a 34-match winning streak at World Cups dating back to 1999. [caption id=“attachment_2162699” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Australia will be wary of Pakistan’s return to form after their abject start to the tournament. AFP[/caption] Pakistan skittled their batsmen for 176, their lowest World Cup total since 1992, and held on to record a four-wicket victory that put Australia into a tough quarter-final which they ultimately lost to eventual champions India. It was also Pakistan who were the last team to beat Australia before their winning streak which included the teams playing off in the 1999 World Cup final and Australia go on to defend the trophy twice. Fast forward to the current tournament, the co-hosts will be wary of Pakistan’s return to form after their abject start to the tournament. It was a horror start in 1992 that saw Imran Khan’s “cornered tigers” ultimately fight back to win their maiden and only World Cup on Australian soil. Though pundits have been tempted to link the campaigns, Misbah-ul-Haq’s team is poles apart from Khan’s side in batting and bowling stocks and has been further depleted by the loss of towering paceman Mohammad Irfan to a broken pelvis. Pakistan are likely to lean on Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan, Rahat Ali and Ehsan Adil for their pace attack, although the makeup could change if selectors decide to go with legspinner Yasir Shah, as coach Waqar Younis hinted. The 28-year-old Shah has not played since the opening pool loss to India but has proved a handful for Australian batsmen, capturing 12 wickets in last year’s 2-0 test series win in United Arab Emirates. Though the side may not be decided, Misbah had no argument that his team were the underdogs. “They are favourites,” Misbah told reporters of his opponents on Thursday. “But there is no hard and fast rules that favourites are always going to win the game. “It’s on the day … we are hopeful and we are very positive and I think we have got a bowling line-up that can really go through any team.” Australia can rightfully make the same boast of their pace attack, led by left-arm seamer Mitchell Starc who leads the tournament with 16 wickets at a devastating average of 8.50. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are vying to be the third paceman to join Starc and Mitchell Johnson on an Adelaide Oval wicket which had a green tinge on Thursday. The prize for the winner is a semi-final in Sydney against the victor in Thursday’s quarter-final between India and Bangladesh. Captain Clarke was cagey about the lineup of his team, saying they would wait until having another look at the wicket on match-day before making a call. “Fast bowing will play a big part tomorrow, especially if they leave that grass on the wicket like there is now – fingers crossed,” he told reporters. “But I think both teams have good fast bowlers in their line-ups so the batters are going to have to make sure we play really well.” Reuters
World Cup, Australia vs Pakistan as it happened: Australia thump Pakistan by six wickets
Live scores and updates as Pakistan take on Australia in the World Cup quarterfinals.
 "World Cup, Australia vs Pakistan as it happened: Australia thump Pakistan by six wickets")
7th time Australia are going to play WC semi-final, the Most often by any team in WCs, if NZ wins tomorrow that will be their 7th SF. #CWC15
— Cricket Records (@cricinfo_record) March 20, 2015
That’s it! Australia beat Pakistan by 6 wickets!
Maxwell cracks a flat six over covers off Sohail and then Watson thumps it through covers for a four to hit the winning runs. Watson and Maxwell hug each other as they celebrate. Australia have won it with 97 balls to spare but it wasn’t that easy for Australia.
After 33 overs, Australia 203/4 (Watson 60, Maxwell 35)
Watson giving some back to Wahab now. The left arm pacer drops it short and this time Watson doesn’t duck or sway, he just hammers it over deep square leg for a flat six. Wahab then drifts on his pads and Watson trickles it to fine leg for a boundary. Wahab ends the over with a bouncer and this time Watson ducks. Wahab walks up to him and has a couple of words. Watson smiles and has a laugh.
After 32 overs, Australia 193/4 (Watson 50, Maxwell 35)
Maxwell wants to finish this off as soon as possible. He drives one through extra cover for a boundary and then pulls the next one over square leg for an effortless six. 11 runs off the Ehsan over.
FIFTY for Watson!
Watson was battered by Riaz by short deliveries, dropped but he kept his calm and hit a fifty. Five fours in his innings so far.
After 31 overs, Australia 182/4 (Watson 49, Maxwell 25)
Maxwell going for everything. A flick through mid-wicket for a four and then a I-didn’tknow-where-it-was-going shot as he goes for a pull and ends up slashing it through point. He then drives one sweetly through covers for three. 13 runs off the over.
After 30 overs, Australia 169/4 (Watson 48, Maxwell 14)
Maxwell and Watson have gone on the attack now. Maxwell pulls it through mid-wicket for a four and then Watson drives it through covers for another one. 9 runs off the over. Australia cruising now….
Sigh. If partition hadn't happened Wahab Riaz at this very moment could be watching this on his phone while working at Infosys.
— Sidin (@sidin) March 20, 2015
After 29 overs, Australia 160/4 (Watson 44, Maxwell 9)
DROPPED! Wahab must be cursing his luck. He bowls another sharp bouncer, Maxwell charges down the track but it’s straight on his face, he tries to pulls of a slash-pull but geta a top edge to third man, Sohail puts in a lazy effort and it goes through his hands. Poor, poor fielding from Pakistan. 7 runs off the over.
After 28 overs, Australia 153/4 (Watson 42, Maxwell 5)
After five dot balls. Maxwell unleashes a terrific drive through mid off for a boundary. Four runs off the over. Not much happening for the rest of the pacers. Pakistan need to bring back Wahab now.
After 27 overs, Australia 149/4 (Watson 42, Maxwell 1)
A very good over from Ehsan. He got the reward for pitching it up as he scalped the wicket of Smith. Three runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Ehsan removes Smith. But is it too little too late? S Smith lbw b Ehsan Adil 65 (69b 7×4 0x6), After 26.4 overs, Australia 148/4 (Watson 42)
Full on off, tailing in. Smith shuffles across and looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads. They all go up in an appeal and the umpire, after a long thought, lifts his finger. No reviews left for Smith and he walks off after a wonderful innings. Replays show that it was clipping leg.
Glenn Maxwell is the new batsman.
After 26 overs, Australia 146/3 (Smith 64, Watson 41)
Afridi finally keeping it full but Smith manufactures a fantastic shot. He dances down the track and whips it over mid-wicket for a four. He then drives one through covers for a couple and then takes a single off the last ball to make it 7 runs from the over.
After 25 overs, Australia 139/3 (Smith 57, Watson 41)
Four singles off the Haris over. It’s been too easy for Australia so far.
After 24 overs, Australia 135/3 (Smith 55, Watson 39)
Afridi is too short and has been milked for runs by the Aussies. Paksitan are letting it slip from here. Watson pulls one through mid-wicket for three. Four singles and a two makes it 9 runs from the over.
After 23 overs, Australia 126/3 (Smith 53, Watson 32)
A good over from Sohail. He mixed up his pace well. Just three singles off the over.
After 22 overs, Australia 123/3 (Smith 52, Watson 30)
Watson getting into the groove now. The short ball strategy is not working against him and he is taking the short stuff on. He crackes a coupke of pulls, one through mid-wicket and then other through square leg. A couple of short ball wides and a single make it 11 runs off the over.
After 21 overs, Australia 112/3 (Smith 52, Watson 21)
Smith gets to a classy fifty with a four. A wide and a single makes it 6 runs off the over. The storm seems to have died and Australia are playing confidently. Pakistan need a wicket now.
FIFTY for Smith!
Smith brings up his fifty in style with a lovely cover drive. A shot he has played so well in this innings so far. It’s been a brilliant innings so far from him. six fours in the innings so far.
After 20 overs, Australia 106/3 (Smith 48, Watson 20)
Smith is playing confidently and seems to be unruffled by what is happing at the other end. Watson looks to have weathered the storm as he creams one through extra cover for a boundary. He then clips one through mid-wicket for a couple. He is assured in his defense too. 8 runs off the over.
After 19 overs, Australia 98/3 (Smith 47, Watson 13)
Watson is confident in this over but he fended away one which fell short of the short leg fielder. Wahab bowled a couple of bouncers which were called wides. He then resorted to full deliveries and Watson defended them solidly. He pulls a back of a length delivery through square leg for a couple. 5 runs off the over.
After 18 overs, Australia 93/3 (Smith 46, Watson 11)
Sohail now trying to bounce out Watson but the latter gets on the top and hammers a pull for a boundary. A couple of more bouncers more from Sohail. But he is not ramping up the same pace as Wahab. 5 runs off the over.
What a difference between Steve Smith and Shane Watson's batting #confidence #lackofconfidence #incrediblecricket #WC2015comesalive
— Brian Lara (@BrianLara) March 20, 2015
After 17 overs, Australia 88/3 (Smith 45, Watson 7)
DROPPED! Rahat drops a simple one! What disappointment for Pakistan!
Wahab was so, so close to having his man. Another bouncer off the first ball, Watson just plays a half-hearted pull, he gets a top edge to fine leg where Rahat drops a sitter. Wahab cant believe it. A let off for Watson. Watson then fends away another bouncer. Wahab has a couple of words with him and has a laugh. There is a loud cheer from the crowd as Watson clips one through square leg for a couple.
After 16 overs, Australia 83/3 (Smith 44, Watson 4)
Not good stuff from Afridi. He needs to keep it tight with Waab bowling so well from the other end. Smith walks across and flicks it through mid-wicket for a four and then another couple of flicks for twos. 9 runs off the over.
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