The Wahab Riaz - Shane Watson duel
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Adelaide: Shane Watson admitted he was fortunate to escape Wahab Riaz's classic spell of intimidatory, eyeball-to-eyeball fast bowling in Friday's World Cup quarter-final between Australia and Pakistan.
Watson ended the game on an unbeaten 64 off 66 balls but he was dropped on four by Rahat Ali at fine leg off a 145kmh Riaz bouncer as the veteran Australian all-rounder was under physical siege. (Australia Beat Pakistan )
Riaz charged in, peppering the batsman with a series of short-pitched deliveries and sarcastically applauding and even blowing the 33-year-old a kiss at one stage.
"Wahab gave it everything, he was right on the money and there were some really nasty balls in there," said Watson, after his team's six-wicket win at the Adelaide Oval which set up a semi-final clash against defending champions India. (Vulnerable Australian Batting Good Sign for India: Laxman )
"I was lucky to get through that spell."
Riaz finished with two for 54 but he should have had more wickets, with Sohail Khan displaying similar butter-fingers to Rahat when he dropped Glenn Maxwell late in the innings.
"(Rahat Ali's dropped catch) was a crucial moment. We would have had Watson and a wicket to put more pressure on Australia," Riaz told Sky Sports. (Wahab Riaz Spell Australia Gasping )
"We watched how the Australia guys play and had a chat before the game and put plans in place. I knew Watson was not so good with short balls so I knew I had to attack. The plans were successful at times but unfortunately we could not win the game."
Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq hailed the fiery Riaz.
"He bowled his heart out and was a different kind of bowler throughout this tournament. I have never seen a bowler bowling like that and if that catch had been taken who knows what could have happened?," said Misbah.
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