Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said he still “couldn’t believe it” after the defending champions lost a thrilling World Twenty20 semifinal to Australia in a game they’d all but won.
“All you can do is just smile about it,” said the former fast bowler turned Pakistan coach in admiration of an astounding Australia rally. “I thought we did our best. What else can you do?” he said after a remarkable match at the Beausejour Stadium here on Friday.
Set an imposing 192 to win, after Pakistan had piled up 191/6 on the back of fifties from the Akmal brothers (Kamran made 50 and Umar 56 not out), Australia were 105/5 in the 13th over when Michael Hussey replaced brother David at the crease. But the man-of-the-match turned the game on its head with a superb innings of 60 not out, made from just 24 balls, with six sixes and three fours.
“I don’t think we went wrong anywhere,” said Waqar, who paid tribute to Cameron White for a quickfire 43 that started to swing the match back Australia’s way.
“We did a good job, but you’ve just got to give credit to the Australians for the way they batted. They kept the momentum with them all the way, especially Cameron White’s innings. I thought that set the tone, and then Hussey did the real damage.
“I still can’t believe it. It was an unbelievable innings; you just don’t see many like that around.” — AFP