Mohammad Hafeez: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Raza-Hasan-c84407 was brilliant – Cricket News Update
Pakistan captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Hafeez-c76898 was full of praise for his players, especially rookie spinner Raza Hasan, after they outclassed the rampaging Australians in their must-win World T20 Super Eight encounter, at Colombo, on Tuesday, to qualify for the tournament semi-finals.
After a demoralizing eight-wicket defeat at the hands of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, in their second Super Eight match, on Sunday, Pakistan cricket team went into Tuesdays’ encounter against mighty Aussies facing a must win situation.
After being put in to bat, the men in green rode on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nasir-Jamshed-c78752’s calculated half-century to set a respectable 149 for six on the board. The spinners then dismantled the Australian batmen right from the start of their chase, as the Aussies kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
“I am grateful to see the effort put up by the boys today,” said http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 captain Mohammad Hafeez after his side’s 32-run win. “It was a big game for us and we needed to be at our best against a side like Australia.”
Pakistan tried five spinners against the mighty Aussies, and the plan paid dividend as the Australian batsmen could never get going. The spin trio of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Saeed-Ajmal-c87859, Mohammad Hafeez and rookie Raza Hassan shared seven wickets between them.
Hafeez was particularly impressed with young spinner Raza Hasan. The 20-year-old left-armer, playing in his first global tournament, picked up two wickets, including prized scalp of danger man http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558, and gave away just 14 in his spell of four overs, as Pakistan restricted the formidable Australian line-up to 117 for seven, while defending a par total of 149.
“Once we got a good total, we knew we will do well because there was going to be help for the bowlers (from the pitch). Raza Hasan was brilliant, a great find for us,” Hafeez went on to add.
Raza Hasan was later adjudged as the man of the match for his impressive show.
“I'm really happy at the moment as it's my first big tournament. Everybody gives me confidence. We knew we had to try hard,” said the left-armer at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Both Pakistan and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760, the next day.
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