MIRPUR: Pakistan has defeated Australia by 16 runs at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on Sunday, ARY News reported.
Australia after winning the toss put Pakistan in to bat.
Despite losing early wickets of Ahmed Shehzad (5) and Mohammad Hafeez(13) that left Pakistan at 25-2, green shirts stretched the score to 191.
Umar Akmal played aggressive knock of 94 runs hitting 6 fours and 4 sixes.
Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi contributed well scoring 31 and 20 runs respectively.
Pakistan's decision to opt an extra spinner in the match against Australian worked. As Zulfiqar Babar was named in the side at the expense of Junaid Khan, who was the only man dropped from the side that played India.
Zulfiqar Babar opened the bowling and bowled a magical over taking 2 main wickets of Shane Watson and David Warner. The two wickets left Australia at 8-2.
But Glenn Maxwell played tremendous inning of 74 runs. He smashed 7 fours and 6 sixes. While Aaron Finch scored 65 off 54 balls.
At one stage Pakistan seemed in a difficult position to claim victory but combined performance of Pakistani bowlers proved that Pakistan are world cricket's most mercurial side.
Bilawal Bhatti's first over cost 30 runs, Pakistan dropped two catches in three balls, they conceded an 18-ball half-century to Glenn Maxwell but emerged victorious in the game.
Four of Pakistani bowlers took 2 wickets each namely, Zulfiqar Babar, Shahid Afridi, Bilawal Bhatti and Umar Gul.
