Gros Islet (St. Lucia), May 3: Shane Watson top-scored with 81 as Australia punished lax Pakistan fielding to win their opening World Twenty20 match by a convincing 34 run margin here on Sunday.
Man-of-the-match Watson’s innings was the cornerstone of Australia’s 191 all out, made after captain Michael Clarke won the toss.
But the all-rounder was dropped on 11 by Misbah-ul-Haq and missed on 20, again by Misbah, who couldn’t get a hand on a skied chance after running back at long-on, with Mohammad Hafeez the unlucky bowler on both occasions.
Watson made defending champions Pakistan pay by striking four sixes and seven fours in his blistering 49-ball innings and with David Hussey he put on 98 in under nine overs for the third wicket. Hussey dropped on 18 at long-off by Salman Butt, a relatively easy chance, went on to make 53 off 29 balls with five sixes and two fours.
Australia’s total was effectively made off 19 overs as their innings ended in extraordinary fashion with a five-wicket maiden from Mohammad Aamer but by then the damage had been done.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi said his team had been outplayed in all departments.
Scores: Australia 191 in 20 overs (Watson 81, Hussey 53; Aamer 3/23, Ajmal 3/34) bt Pakistan 157 in 20 overs (Misbah 41, Tait 3/20, Nannes 3/41)