History and form favours Australia over Pakistan
Australia maintain a healthy lead over Pakistan in ODIs if the recent stats are anything to go by. (Source: AP)
Host Australia and Pakistan will battle for the semi-final slot at Adelaide on Friday. This will be the ninth encounter in World Cups between the two sides. However, this will be the third encounter in World Cup knockout situations between the two sides. (Full Coverage| Venues | Fixtures)
When you look at the overall World Cup record between the two sides, there is nothing much to choose, with either side winning four matches each. But it is in the knockout games where Australia holds the edge. Australia has won both the knockout encounters between the two sides in World Cup history.
The first match between the two sides in a knockout was in the 1987 World Cup semi-final when Allan Border’s unfancied Australia knocked out host Pakistan by 18 runs. It was meant to be a fairytale finish to Pakistan’s captain Imran Khan’s glorious career, but sadly it was not to be. Imran’s side lost in his hometown of Lahore as Australia’s unheralded squad progressed to claim their first World Cup title in Kolkata.
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Then again in the 1999 World Cup final, Pakistan’s batting failed to read the magic of Shane Warne as Australia claimed their second World Cup title, at the Lord’s cricket ground. Pakistan’s batting failed to rise to the situation and Australia stamped their authority on world cricket.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtueXY-txhk?version=3&rel=1&fs=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&wmode=transparent&w=640&h=390]
But before the 1999 final, Pakistan was the only side to have beaten Australia in that tournament. In fact post that loss to Pakistan in the league stage of the 1999 tournament, Australia remained unbeaten till the 2011 World Cup. It was Pakistan yet again which halted Australia’s amazing winning run with a hard-fought four-wicket win at Colombo.
However, in the last 10 ODIs between the two sides, Pakistan has won just twice, with the World Cup 2011 win being one of them.
The record for Pakistan against Australia in Australia is also nothing to write home about. Pakistan has lost 32 of the 50 matches the two sides have played in Australia. Also since winning a three-match bilateral series in 2002, Pakistan won just one of the last 10 matches against Australia in Australia.
Friday’s encounter will also be the first between the two sides in Australia since they last played a bilateral series in 2009-10.
Source:: Indian Express
