Australian side is now ruling in Group A at second spot with 9 points after Sri Lanka defeated New Zealand by a huge margin of 112-runs. Australians are consistently unbeaten as they achieved a 34 consecutive wins in World Cup matches. In 2011 World Cup, they beat Zimbabwe, a trumping New Zealand, followed two victories against Kenya and Canada, while Sri Lanka clash was washed out due to heavy downpours, now they would face another challenge with Pakistan.
On the other side of picture, Pakistan have spent a month in Sri Lanka, stumbling once with Kiwis when Ross Taylor fired at them with heavy bullet shots, otherwise they were steering themselves to the quarter-finals with relative comfort, including a narrow victory over the home team Sri Lanka. This contest will also give a signal to Ponting of where his side lies.
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting said, "We really do start to feel that the tournament is kicking off now. We have had our games along the way and the other big game we had in our pool matches was the game against Sri Lanka, which was abandoned, unfortunately. We have been really enthusiastic about playing this game against Pakistan for quite a while. At this stage we are the only unbeatable side in the tournament, which is pleasant for us, but I think we will get a better experience tomorrow at the end of the game for just where we are at and how well we are placed in this World Cup."
The Australians will conjure their assault against Pakistan, who has been bowled out for 184 by Canada and 192 by New Zealand in their past three games. But the big confront will be overcoming a Pakistan bowling group led by Umar Gul and Shoaib Akhtar, with their swinging yorkers, and the captain Shahid Afridi, who is the leading wicket-taker in the tournament.
Ponting also said, "He has been prominent bowler, wickets-wise, in the tournament so far, He doesn't go for a lot of runs, either, which is perhaps the major reason he has taken the no of wickets. He builds up pressure, and if he builds up strain from his end you can assurance that the guy at the other end is more likely to smack and take wickets as well. They are a dangerous side. They proved that last time they played Sri Lanka here at this venue, how good a side they can be."
Pakistan were also the last team to thrash Australia in a World Cup match, at Headingley in 1999, and Ponting's men have now extended their streak to 34 games without a loss. Making it 35 will be their toughest challenge so far in this tournament.
No comments:
Post a Comment