Sydney - Pakistan were left needing a remarkable performance by their bowlers to beat Australia after collapsing to 213 in their World Cup quarter-final, while West Indies were sweating on the fitness of Chris Gayle ahead of their showdown with New Zealand.
Misbah-ul-Haq, the Pakistan captain, won the toss and batted first on a good Adelaide Oval pitch.
But the 1992 champions lost wickets steadily, with recalled fast bowler Josh Hazlewood leading Australia's attack with four for 35.
"I'm very happy with that -- the boys played well throughout the 50 overs," said Hazlewood, selected in place of Pat Cummins
"The wicket's pretty good, it swung around early on. We've got depth in our squad so whenever you get a chance, you've got to impress."
Hazlewood's display left Australia on course to play India in a semi-final in Sydney on March 26 after the defending champions thrashed Bangladesh by 109 runs at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.
Pakistan's mediocre batting effort meant this match threatened to be a final one-day international before retirement for both the 40-year-old Misbah and fellow veteran Shahid Afridi.
Haris Sohail, who top-scored with 41, and Misbah (34) put on 73 for the third wicket while Afridi made a typically quickfire 23, off 15 balls, before he holed out going for another big hit.
Apart from a nailbiting one-wicket loss to fellow co-hosts New Zealand and a wash-out with Bangladesh, four-times champions Australia have made serene progress in their quest to win a first World Cup title on home soil.
Pakistan, by contrast, suffered thumping defeats by defending champions India and the West Indies in their first two pool matches.
However, Pakistan's achievement in winning four successive pool matches -- including a victory over a South Africa side who on Wednesday stormed into the semi-finals with a nine-wicket rout of Sri Lanka -- suggested they could be a match for anyone on their day.
AFP
