24 Mar 2014

Pakistan beat Australia at World T20

5:48 am on 24 March 2014

A lionhearted effort by Pakistan's bowlers powered the 2009 champions to a 16-run win over Australia in a high-scoring Twenty20 World Cup match in Mirpur.

Chasing 192 to clinch the Group Two super 10 match, Australia were cruising at 126 for two in the 12th over before the Pakistan bowlers turned the clash on its head.

Zulfiqar Babar, Umar Gul, Shahid Afridi and Bilawal Bhatti claimed two wickets each as Australia were all out for 175.

Australia's Glenn Maxwell blasted six sixes in a sizzling 74 and featured in a century-plus stand with Aaron Finch (65) but their efforts proved in vain.

When Maxwell departed after 33 balls of swashbuckling entertainment it triggered a collapse Australia could not recover from.

Put into bat, Umar Akmal fell six runs short of his maiden Twenty20 International century after his 94-run blitz powered Pakistan to 191 for five.

Pakistan shrugging off Saturday's defeat to arch-rivals India to claim their maiden win of the tournament.