Australia survived fierce Pakistan resistance during a tense chase to seal an eventually comfortable six-wicket win in their World Cup quarter-final at the Adelaide Oval.
The co-hosts looked to have set up a straightforward pursuit by dismissing their opponents for 213, the recalled Josh Hazlewood starring with 4-35.
Yet Pakistan, and left-arm paceman Wahab Riaz in particular, made Michael Clarke’s side fight for a semi-final versus India at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Riaz, entering the attack towards the end of the mandatory powerplay, struck in his first two overs and would have left Australia 74 for four if Rahat Ali had held a regulation catch at fine-leg.
Rahat’s spill reprieved Shane Watson on four, and the batsman overcame the high tension in the middle to see his team to victory with more than 16 overs to spare thanks to 64 not out from 66 balls.
He added 89 for the fourth wicket alongside Steven Smith, who top-scored with 65 from 69 deliveries, before being the junior partner in a 68-run stand with Glenn Maxwell, who hurried to an unbeaten 29-ball 44.
A relieved Clarke said: “Wahab came out and really put us under pressure, (with) one of the fastest spells I've seen in a long time.
“Watson toughed it out; Steven Smith looked fantastic. If they catch Watto at fine-leg it could have been a lot tighter.”
On Riaz, whose figures of 2-54 did not do him justice, Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq added: “He bowled his heart out. He's been a totally different bowler throughout this tournament. I've never seen spells like that.”
Pakistan, without the injured Mohammad Irfan for this match, snared Aaron Finch, who was lbw to Sohail Khan, early in the reply before Riaz struck with two short balls. He was fortuitous to have David Warner held at third man for 24 but a short-leg catch to see off Clarke perfectly executed a plan.
Watson’s reprieve after top-edging a bouncer came in the midst of a fierce, six-over spell that could have turned the game Pakistan’s way. But Smith and Watson resisted and scored smoothly until Ehsan Adil trapped the former in front.
Big-hitting Maxwell then took over, smiting five fours and two sixes, including an outrageous maximum over backward point to move Australia to the brink.
WATCH the brilliant @ShaneRWatson33 catch that claimed Sarfraz: http://t.co/RQEe9Hbn8a#AUSvPAKpic.twitter.com/2r0RVUz6Jj
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) March 20, 2015
Earlier Watson’s sensational slip catch, diving to his right as the ball swung late, and a more standard Clarke take ousted Pakistan’s openers in the space of four powerplay deliveries.
Haris Sohail and Misbah responded with an alliance of 73 until the skipper, going for a third six in what proved to be his last one-day international, holed out off Maxwell for 34. Mitchell Johnson’s bouncer soon saw Haris caught behind for 41.
Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood and Shahid Afridi, also playing his final ODI, contributed twenties when more was needed.
Hazlewood, replacing Pat Cummins in the XI, accounted for Maqsood and Afridi before adding Khan’s scalp as Australia’s impressive seamers dominated the closing overs.