Australia almost stole defeat from the jaws of victory before booking their place in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy with a riveting final ball, two-wicket win over Pakistan Wednesday. Australia, the reigning champion and unbeaten before this Centurion clash after a win and a washout, was cruising to its victory target of 206 before late wickets meant a scrambled single off the final ball secured the win. Australia sent Pakistan in to bat and restricted them to 205 for six in 50 overs, and then looked in firm control of the run chase while Mike Hussey was at the crease as the left-hander breezed to 64 off 87 deliveries He was sent packing by a perfect yorker from Rana Navedul Hasan, sparking a middle-order collapse that saw Australia lose four wickets for 13 runs as they crashed to 187 for eight. But Brett Lee (12 not out) and Nathan Hauritz (9 not out) kept their cool as they added 19 runs for the ninth wicket, scoring 18 off the last three overs, and four off the 50th over, to seal a thrilling victory. Hussey was the one batsman to play with ease on a pitch which was awkward for batting, stroking six elegant fours and a six. Returning seamer Mohammad Asif threatened to snatch a dramatic victory when he dismissed James Hopes (1) and Cameron White (5) in the 42nd over to finish with two for 34. Asif was playing his first ODI in over a year, having completed a one-year ban for doping earlier this month. Pakistan's total was built around a fifth-wicket partnership of 63 off 88 balls between Mohammad Yousuf (45) and Misbahul Haq (41). Kamran Akmal batted aggressively at the top of the innings to score 44, but the uneven bounce did not suit his strokeplaying intentions.
