 The second semi-final of the ICC World T20 in the West Indies will be played between Australia and Pakistan. The game will be played at St. Lucia in
the same place as the first semi-final between England and Sri Lanka.
Australia has been the team on a roll. They have not lost a single game, but
what is most interesting is that they have not come close to losing a single
game either. There was a 34-run win over Pakistan, 27-run victory over
Bangladesh, by 49 runs against India, 81 run victory over Sri Lanka and with
22 balls over West Indies. None of the sides were able to run them close, and
that is what the worry will be.
Click for Live Score Card of Australia Vs PakistanThe batsmen have delivered the goods on one or the other occasion. In fact,
if one were to look at all the games, except Michael Clarke, all the batsmen
in the top-order, including the likes of Shane Watson, Dave Warner, David
Hussey, Michael Hussey, Cameron White and Brad Haddin, have had one big score
and in turn a hand in their victories. This means that going into the semi-finals,
the side will be fully oiled in terms of the batting and would be wanting one
good innings from their captain Clarke.
The bowling has been no worse. Of course, the conditions at Barbados would
have definitely helped the Aussie pace-men, but that has not meant that the
side has not revelled in the conditions in St. Lucia where the semi-final will
be played, as was the case in the first round and the last Super Eights game.
With the likes of Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait going at full throttle,
it will only require the side some early wickets again to lose the steam and
hence the momentum.
For Pakistan, they have again been inconsistent. The bowling has hardly been
a plus point except after the inclusion of Abdur Rahman, whereas the batting
has struggled through the entire duration of the tournament. How will the likes
of Kamran Akmal and the rest of the order handle the Aussie bowling is
beyond comprehension, especially after the side had lost all their nine games
that they had played on their recent tour of Australia.
Shahid Afridi has a task on his hand and that is very clear. How does he manage
it is going to be a huge question mark as the side looks to enter their third
successive semi-final of the tournament.
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