Watch: Shahid Afridi takes an excellent catch to send back Cameron White

59 runs were needed from 35 balls, as Cameron White tried to hit one over the covers only to find a diving Shahid Afridi mid-way through its journey. Afridi took an excellent catch to send back White at a crucial juncture. Pakistan ended up winning the encounter by 23 runs.

Umar set up the victory with the fastest Twenty20 international half-century by a Pakistani cricketer, a 21-ball effort that brought the thousands of Pakistan fans at Edgbaston to their feet. Their 167 for 8 looked challenging but gettable, and when David Warner scythed five boundaries from Shoaib Akhtar’s first five balls, Australia appeared to be in charge.

But once the field went back, and Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul came on, the runs dried up. Gul delivered yorker after yorker, and Afridi altered his pace and angle to keep Warner and David Hussey guessing during their 52-run stand. Hussey had 34 from 28 balls when he skied Afridi to mid-on, and Warner followed in the next over.

Warner’s 41 from 31 was more restrained than his usual Twenty20 efforts, with the attack on Akhtar his only period of dominance. Ajmal, the unlucky man asked to bowl the final over in St Lucia, deceived Warner with a ball that went straight on, beat the bat and crashed into the stumps. That brought Michael Hussey to the crease, but there were no heroics this time.

The Australians needed some top-order support for Warner; instead, Michael Clarke’s dismal Twenty20 batting record continued. He was caught for 5, trying to force Abdul Razzaq through cover and it is now eight innings since he has scored better than a run a ball in a Twenty20 for his country.

Aamer (3 for 27) began the strong bowling effort by trapping Shane Watson lbw in the first over of the chase before he returned to snare the key wickets of Cameron White and Steven Smith. Umar’s recovery won Pakistan the game and earned him the Man-of-the-Match award.

Watch: Shahid Afridi takes an excellent catch to send back Cameron White:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpxGfoA7Tjg

Watch: Shahid Afridi hits a 103 meter six to land it on the stadium roof