T20 World Cup Australia Wins From Pakistan By 34 Runs

Australia has issued a comprehensive warning to the rest of the tournament after romping to a 34-run win in their first World Twenty20 match over Pakistan today.

In one of their best Twenty20 performances to date, Michael Clarke's side totally outplayed the defending world champions and given the strength of the opposition, this was the most impressive performance after three days and six games of the tournament.

A 98-run stand between Shane Watson and David Hussey in 50 balls set up Australia's monster total of 9-191, then Pakistan were skittled for 157 courtesy of disciplined bowling and fielding. Watson and Hussey punished Pakistan for poor fielding.

Man-of-the-match Watson's 81 off 49 was a special innings, largely made possible by two missed chances at midwicket by Misbah-ul-Haq early in the piece. Watson was first dropped on 11 by the diving Pakistani at midwicket off the bowling of spinner Mohammad Hafeez.

The exasperated bowler was aghast when Watson struck him for six off the next ball. Then on 20, Watson misqueued Mohammad Aamer's delivery and Misbah failed to read the flight of the ball, unable to get a hand on it.

Watson hit Hafeez for consecutive sixes to bring up his half-century in the 10th over, from only 31 balls. David Hussey was also let off on 18 in what was a regulation chance at long-off by Salman Butt off Mohammad Sami, and went on to score a brilliant half-century.

Hussey hit three sixes in succession off a dreadful Sami over to reach his 50 in a mere 27 balls. That Sami over leaked 28 runs to the Victorian but Hussey was dismissed the next ball by Saeed Ajmal for 53 (29 balls, two fours and five sixes).

Three balls later Ajmal had the key wicket of Watson for 81 (49 balls, seven boundaries and four sixes), trapping him in front for LBW. It was no matter, as the total climbed towards 200 before an unbelievable final over from Aamer that was a five-wicket maiden.