Pakistan end Australia's winning streak
Pakistan, who were incidentally the last team to have beaten Australia in World Cup before, first shot their opponents out for a modest 176 in 46.4 overs before chasing down the target with nine overs to spare at Premadasa stadium.
Chasing 177 for a win, Pakistan suffered early jolts with fast bowler Brett Lee ripping through their top-order with a sensational four-wicket burst before romping home. Asad Shafiq, who scored 78 not out against Zimbabwe in Pakistan's earlier match, top-scored with 46 while Umar Akmal and Younis Khan chipped in with 44 not out and 31 respectively.
Run rate was never an issue as the target was small but Pakistan were in danger when they were six down for 142 in the 33rd over before Umar and Abdul Razzaq (20 not out) took their side home after stitching 46 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand. Razzaq hit the winning run -- a four -- as Pakistan reached 178 for six in 41 overs.
Both the sides have already qualified for quarterfinals before the match but with today's win, Pakistan top Group A with 10 points while Australia (nine) finished third behind Sri Lanka (nine) on net run rate. New Zealand are fourth with eight points.
Pakistan play the fourth-ranked side from Group B, which will be decided after the match between India and West Indies in Chennai tomorrow. Australia, who were last defeated by Pakistan in the World Cup match at Leeds in May 1999, posted their sixth lowest total in the showpiece event and lowest in first innings since 1992 edition, with Brad Haddin top-scoring with 42 after electing to bat.
Lee kept Australia in for a chance with a devastating spell of fast bowling including two wickets in consecutive balls, but ultimately found that the total they were defending was too small. After removing both the Pakistan openers Mohammed Hafeez (5) and Kamran Akmal (23) in his five-over first spell, Lee returned to dismiss Younis and Misbah-ul-Haq (0) with consecutive balls in the 23rd over though he could not complete his hat-trict.
Lee, who extracted pace and carry from the slow track, gave Australia an early breakthrough by dismissing Hafeez LBW in the third over.
Hafeez closed the face of his bat too early while trying to work a quick and straight delivery through midwicket only to offer a catch to the bowler in his follow-through as Pakistan were one down for just 12 runs.