ICC World Twenty20 final: England v Australia
Venue: Kensington Oval, Barbados Date: Sunday, 16 May (1630 BST)
Coverage: Live ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary on BBC Radio 5 live, BBC Radio 4 LW and BBC Sport website (UK only, from 1600 BST); live text commentary and report on the BBC Sport website & mobiles  Hussey put on an unbeaten 53 with Mitchell Johnson to see Australia home
Michael Hussey's incredible display in Australia's World Twenty20 semi-final victory over Pakistan was described as "freakish" by captain Michael Clarke. Hussey hit three sixes and a four in the final over as Australia grabbed an unlikely three-wicket win in St Lucia. "You just can't write us off," said Clarke after Hussey's unbeaten 60 off 24 balls set up a final against Ashes rivals England in Barbados on Sunday. "It was just a freakish performance from an unbelievable cricketer." Hussey, 34, finished unbeaten on 60 from only 24 balls to get Australia home from what had seemed a near hopeless position. Needing 18 from spinner Saeed Ajmal's final over, the left-hander powered Australia past Pakistan's imposing target of 191-6 with a ball to spare.  | It was all a bit of a blur. That last ball, I just wanted to hit out of the middle. I'm so happy - it was great to see the elation on the boys' faces |
His captain could scarcely credit what he had seen as first Cameron White, who hit 43 from 31 balls, and then Hussey produced some brutal hitting to turn the match on its head. "I can believe it because of the guy sitting beside me," said Clarke. "He and White had an amazing day. I honestly felt Pakistan scored 15 runs too many. "When we lost a few wickets, it was always going to be hard to chase that total. "Then I just couldn't watch the last over after Mitchell got a single." Hussey said: "I think that's probably the best feeling I have ever had on a cricket field, particularly in such a big game when I was having so many doubts. "I had a feeling it wasn't going to be our day when balls kept lobbing over us in the field." | All you can do is just smile about it. You can only try your best. I thought we did our best. What else can you do? Pakistan coach Waqar Younis |
When it came down to the last over, though, Hussey appeared to be totally in control. "I was just trying to slog every ball for six," he said. "I knew he would try to spear a few yorkers in - and if he'd done that, I'd have been in trouble. But he just missed his length. "It was all a bit of a blur. That last ball, I just wanted to hit it out of the middle. I'm so happy - it was great to see the elation on the boys' faces." Pakistan coach Waqar Younis could not believe the way the match finished and was full of praise for Hussey's performance. "I don't think we went wrong anywhere," he said. "We did a good job, but you've just got to give credit to the Australians for the way they batted. "They kept the momentum with them all the way, especially Cameron White's innings. I thought that set the tone, and then Hussey did the real damage. I still can't believe it. | 606: DEBATE |
"It was an unbelievable innings; you just don't see many like that around. "We went really well until the 18th over. Then the way he struck the ball was just amazing. "I can't really blame anyone. I thought we bowled pretty well and batted outstandingly. "All you can do is just smile about it. You can only try your best. I thought we did our best. What else can you do? "It's just that the Australians were too good for us today." Ajmal went for 46 in under four overs, but Waqar absolved the off-spinner of any blame. He said: "Saeed Ajmal bowled superbly in the last game we played. But what can you do when someone is batting like that? "Saeed has been our best bowler in this entire tournament, and in the last couple of years. You cannot really blame him."
| 
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?