Pakistan thrash Australia by 56 runs in Hong Kong

Pakistan made it three wins out of three and Aussies slumped to their third loss in succession in the Cathay Pacific/Standard Chartered Hong Kong Cricket Sixes 2001 being played at Kowloon Cricket Club in Hong Kong, on Saturday.

Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat first and did well to break the record in the Hong Kong sixes tournament. Pakistan scored 115/2 off their alloted 5 overs. McDermott cleaned up Wasim Akram after the Pakistani allrounder had hit a six over covers. Afridi (10) was caught behind by Kim Hughes off the bowling of Moody. Imran Nazir retired not out 32* struck four sixes and a boundary, facing just 10 balls.

Shoaib Malik struck three sixes and three fours in scoring 31 runs off seven balls before retiring not out. Razzaq made an unbeaten 21 off seven balls with the help of a six and three fours to take Pakistan to the record total of 115 off five overs.

Australia were never in the run hunt, Tom Moody and Brendon Julian opening the batting again and playing orthodox cricket, while what it takes is slogging. Afridi bowled the first over, givign away just 13 runs. Azhar Mahmood was even better giving away only eight runs. Malik came in to bowl the third over and found Moody in an attacking mood. That must have even surprised even the Aussies as Moody struck a six and Julian hit two sixes and a four to take 25 runs off the over.

Akram came in to bowl and Moody played a delightful shot to third-man for four. But then Akram has been in tremendous form and he didn't fail to deliver, knocking out the middle stump to dismiss Julian 22 off 9 balls. After four overs Australia were 56/1 and they required an impossible 60 runs off the last over.

Abdur Razzaq bowled the last over and Moody helped himself to a six over long on. Moody had to retire not out after making 31 off 16 balls. Greg Matthews and Kim Hughes didn't do much either and played out the over. Australia finished with 69/1 after five overs and lost the match by 56 runs.