ICC World Cup 2019: Amir's five-wicket haul in vain as Australia beat Pakistan

TAUNTON: In an exciting game on Wednesday at the County ground, which saw both the teams keep fighting till the end, Australia finally defeated Pakistan by 41 runs.
WORLD CUP SCHEDULE | POINTS TABLE | SCORECARD
Not even the most vociferous of their supporters here would've given Pakistan any chance of chasing down 308 when they slumped to 200 for seven in the 34th over. However, joining forces for the eighth wicket, skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed (40, 48b, 1x4) and tailender Wahab Riaz (45, 39b, 2x4, 3x6) added 64 in 63 balls to raise hopes of a miracle.But in a final turn of fortunes, Riaz was out caught behind off Mitchell Starc after Australia opted to take the DRS option at the last moment. Pakistan lost their last three wickets for two runs and in a space of eight balls, as Glenn Maxwell ran out Sarfaraz with a direct hit from short extra cover.

Before this partnership, Pakistan were kept in the hunt by another tailender, Hasan Ali, who struck a few meaty blows during his 15-ball 32 (3x4, 3x6).
Pakistan's chase suffered a jolt when Mohammad Hafeez, batting really well on 46 off 49 balls, swept a juicy full toss straight to Mitchell Starc at deep square leg.

Apart from Aron Finch 82 (84b, 6x4, 4x6), David Warner, who slammed his first international hundred (107, 111b, 11x4, 1x6) since his comeback from the 'Sandpaper gate,' and pacer Pat Cummins (3-33) contributed handsomely.

Frittering away a 146-run stand in just 133 balls between Warner and Finch, Australia were all out for 307 in 49 overs, losing their last six wickets for 30 runs in 47 balls. In spite of not being able to take advantage of seamer-friendly conditions after winning the toss and putting the opposition in due to some bad bowling and pathetic fielding, Pakistan fought back like only they can. The hero with the ball for them was left-arm seamer Mohammad Aamir, who returned with his maiden ODI five-wicket haul for 30 in 10 overs, two of them being maidens.

Like in their first game against the West Indies, Pakistan again succumbed to the short ball. Imam-ul-Haque, who had added 82 for the third wicket in 86 balls with Hafeez, gloved a short ball down the leg side to wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Babar Azam (30, 28b, 7x4) looked in terrific touch, but then hooked a Coulter-Nile bouncer to backward square leg, where Kane Richardson, included in place of leggie Adam Zampa, made no mistake.

Aamir's final over double strike - he had trapped Alex Carey three balls earlier with a superb inswinging yorker, rounded off a superb fightback by his team, which looked in danger of conceding at least 350 at one stage. From being well-placed at 277 for four in the 43rd over, Australia were all out for 307 in 49 overs.