Cricket World Cup group stages, May 30 - July 6

[backfootpunch]

Truly awful bowling from Pakistan

Hasan Ali must've bowled half his deliveries down the leg side and wahab was bowling pies in his last over

[backfootpunch]

Amir been a class apart so far

[alfie]

Despite their dreadful fielding and a lot of indifferent bowling , Pakistan have pegged Australia back lately ...

Marsh gone now and with Amir having still one more over left they could keep this under 330 - which would be an achievement after the Finch and Warner innings.

Even so there seems to be enough in this pitch to make chasing even 300 a task.

[GarlicJam]

Pakistan fighting back well. - will Aus get bowled out?

[alfie]

No runs for NCN this time... Need Carey to throw the bat now - although Cummins is well capable of striking a few himself.

300/7 ...three to go.

[alfie]

Wheels detached...nine down and they're going to be bowled out for not much over 300... Quite a turnaround !

[alfie]

Five for Amir ! Wonderful effort

All out 307 in 49 overs...a serious underachievement . Rather wasted the good work of the openers.

If Pakistan can get a good start suppose they could run this down ? But my money is on Starc and co doing some damage on this pitch. Might get some rest and check it later...

[mikesiva]

An innings of two halves. From 146-0 to 307 all out.

[yuppie]

Yep, way to blow a great platform.

Australia are that one explosive batsman short at present. S Marsh can knock it about, but his best days are behind him.

[Durhamfootman]

it looks to me as though Australia are about 3 bowlers short, rather than an explosive batsman. Once Cummins and Starc are out of the way, things look more like a run fest than a game of cricket

[backfootpunch]

it looks to me as though Australia are about 3 bowlers short, rather than an explosive batsman. Once Cummins and Starc are out of the way, things look more like a run fest than a game of cricket

I think they are 3 bowlers short , an all rounder short and a lower order hitter short

You just cant have three nudgers like Smith, khawaja and marsh in the same side in modern ODI cricket

And as you say there is a serious drop off in the quality of the bowling when starc and Cummins aren't on

Pakistan really should've won this game, middle order chucked it away gifting their wickets to Australia

[yuppie]

Australia's late poor batting might be coming back to bite them.

[yuppie]

Australia are certainly missing a power hitter in the middle. How they could do with a Watson type player now to even up the batting and bowling.

Think they will be trying Lyon in the next match. Not going to get many wickets, but keeps it tight.

It also seems Warner has lost a bit of his explosive hitting.

[Durhamfootman]

Australia gambling on Starc, and it seems to have paid off, although they only just reviewed the not out decision in time. that might be the breakthrough that wins them the game. I was about to type that Aus looked like losing this. Maybe not now

[yuppie]

Starc doing what he does best here.

Australias third bowler at the last world cup was Mitchel Johnson and they had Faulkner, Maxwell and Watson to bowl 20 overs between them.

Perhaps a fully fit Hazelwood would have made a difference this world cup for them.