* Pakistan win by 32 runs to stay in hunt for semis
* Australia through with superior net run-rate (Adds byline, quotes)
By Shihar Aneez
COLOMBO, Oct 2 (Reuters) – Saeed Ajmal and Raza Hasan spun Pakistan to a 32-run victory against Australia in their Super Eight match to keep alive their World Twenty20 semi-final hopes on Tuesday.
Despite the defeat, Australia advanced to join Sri Lanka and West Indies in the last four with a superior net run-rate after beating India and South Africa in their earlier Super Eight matches.
Off-spinner Ajmal took three wickets for 17 while man-of-the-match Hasan picked up two for 14 runs as Australia could only manage 117 for seven in their 20 overs, chasing 150 for victory.
Hafeez thanked his bowlers for rising to the occasion after the eight-wicket defeat against arch-rivals India on Sunday.
“Everybody realised that we have to win the game and win with a margin. I am grateful to see the effort of the boys,” Hafeez said during the post-match presentation ceremony.
“It was terrific by everybody and every bowler did a great job for Pakistan. We wanted our bowlers to do the job and we got the total we really wanted.
Continued…
